In their best ever international result, Sweden put three goals past Mexico without reply in their Group F clash this evening.
But it’s a loss Mexico can bear after Germany went down to South Korea at the other end of Russia, to get them out of jail.
Sweden can thank their defenders, who literally stood tall against everything the Mexicans threw at them, none more so than that man mountain, skipper Andreas Granqvist, who led by superb example at centre half.
Behind him stood Guillermo Ochoa, determined not to be beaten at all costs.
There were no goals in an increasingly physical first half that saw Emil Forsberg failing to grasp many chances created by Sweden, while the same can be said for Mexico’s great hope, Carlos Vela.
Sweden seemed to have been denied a penalty when Javier Hernandez played the ball onto his own hand but VAR disagreed.
Soon after the resumption Sweden got their just desserts when Viktor Claesson’s miskick fell into the path of swiftly arriving left back Ludwig Augustinsson and the Werder Bremen man sent a rocket into the net (1-0).
He would soon try his luck again, but this time his right footer skimmed the bar.
Desperate Mexican defence saw Marcus Berg brought down in the act of shooting and Andreas Granqvist was never going to miss: too much power for Guillermo Ochoa, even though he guessed the right way (2-0).
And they would get a third, this time courtesy of an own goal as Edson Alvatez tried desperately to clear but only managed to deflect it into his own net (3-0).
A disappointed, outplayed and frustrated Mexico’s blushed were spared thanks to Korea.
They go through to the last 16 and surely cannot play this dismally again.
