SOCHI, Russia — Germany saved its World Cup with one swing of Toni Kroos’s right foot on Saturday night, snatching a 2-1 victory over Sweden from the jaws of a draw that would have felt very much like a defeat.
The goal, five minutes into added time, and only moments before the final whistle, righted Germany’s ship on a night that began with the team facing elimination. It gives Germany three points in the group, three behind Mexico and even with Sweden. The Germans now probably need only a win over winless South Korea in their final group game to advance out of the first round — a possibility that seemed nervously out of reach at halftime.