More than 100,000 German and Swedish fans crowded into Munich ahead of the first knockout game of the World Cup, on a boiling hot day.
Updated at 10.20 pm
Germany 2 (Lukas Podolski, 4, 12) Sweden 0
MUNICH: Two goals in the first 12 minutes by Lukas Podolski gave hosts Germany a 2-0 win over 10-man Sweden and a place in the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.
Sweden were reduced to 10 men in the 35th minute when defender Teddy Lucic was sent off for a second yellow card.
The Swedes wasted a great chance to get back into the game in the 53rd minute when Henrik Larsson blasted a penalty over the crossbar.
Podolski put Germany ahead in the fourth minute, pouncing on a loose ball after Miroslav Klose forced keeper Andreas Isaksson to make a diving block.
Podolski scored again eight minutes later, sweeping the ball home after more good work by Klose.
Miroslav Klose of Germany was named Man of the Match by FIFA's Technical Study Group.
More than 100,000 German and Swedish fans had crowded into Munich on Saturday ahead of the first knockout game of the World Cup, turning the Bavarian capital into a sea of national colours on a boiling hot day.
Although only a fraction of them had a ticket for the clash between hosts Germany and Sweden, they filled the centre of town with singing and dancing before heading to public viewing areas.
While the Germans clad in black, red and gold held a numerical advantage, the Swedes in their blue and yellow were holding their own in merry rallies that broke out on the way to the stadium and viewing areas with their big video screens.
“The Germans have been incredibly nice to us,” said Susanne Bygden, 38, a medical student from Vannes, Sweden. “But let''s wait and see what happens later.”
Zak Shafi, a computer specialist from northern Sweden, said the Germans were being overly confident. “They keep saying they 'feel sorry' for us because they think they will win,” he said. “But we've had a great time. Everywhere you go people are singing and dancing together.”
The teams share a rich 95-year rivalry. West Germany knocked Sweden out in the quarterfinals when they last met at a World Cup in 1974 while Sweden won an epic 1958 semifinal clash.
Angry Germans refused to sell Swedish tourists petrol after that 1958 defeat and Swedish food was taken off restaurant menus. Some Swedish companies are reportedly worried about another negative reaction if Sweden knock Germany out.
“I can't imagine anything like that happening again,” said Michael Lange, 35, a project manager from Berlin who took a six-hour ride in a train packed with 1,000 German fans. “The Swedes are lovable people.”
Some of the fans dressed in Sweden colours are Austrians who came across the border to cheer the Scandinavians.
“Deutschland ade, Schweden ole (Goodbye Germany, Go Sweden),” they sang.
Munich authorities expect more than 100,000 visitors to the city. The stadium holds 66,000 while some 60,000 are expected at the public viewing area in Olympia Park with its giant screens.
About 20,000 Swedes were expected inside the stadium.
“We'll be outnumbered in there,” said Sweden fan Robert Nilsson, a coal miner from Gellivare. “But we'll still be heard.”
Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to Sweden's starting lineup after missing their last game with a groin injury.
German coach Juergen Klinsmann had the luxury of naming a first choice team, captained by Michael Ballack.
Sweden coach Lars Lagerback brought back the towering Ibrahimovic, who has scored 18 goals in 40 appearances, in place of Marcus Allback.
Ibrahimovic injured his groin warming up before the group game with Paraguay and came off at halftime.
As expected, Germany recalled Christoph Metzelder at centreback after he sat out the 3-0 win over Ecuador, when he was under threat of suspension because of a yellow card.
Robert Huth has stepped down in the only change to the German team.
Teams
Germany
Jens Lehmann, Arne Friedrich, Christoph Metzelder, Per Mertesacker, Philipp Lahm, Bernd Schneider, Torsten Frings, Michael Ballack, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose
Coach: Juergen Klinsmann
Sweden
Andreas Isaksson, Olof Mellberg, Teddy Lucic, Erik Edman, Niclas Alexandersson, Tobias Linderoth, Fredrik Ljungberg, Mattias Jonson, Kim Kallstrom, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrik Larsson
Coach: Lars Lagerback
Referee: Carlos Simon (Brazil)
Linesmen: Aristeu Tavares (Brazil), Ednilson Corona (Brazil)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}