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Indian Under 16 Team Were Clearly The Inspiration For Toni Kroos Free Kick

Indian Under 16 Team Were Clearly The Inspiration For Toni Kroos Free Kick

The Real Madrid forward curled in a very late winner for the World Cup holders against Sweden to keep their dreams alive.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Germany are still in the World Cup and that means you can't count them out of winning the whole damn thing. It seems that they're only still in the competition because Toni Kroos watches some very niche football.

Not many people would have predicted Germany struggling in the World Cup but just after half an hour of their second game against Sweden they were facing elimination with a game to go.

Having been shocked in the opening game by Mexico, thanks to a Hirving Lozano strike, the champions needed to avoid defeat in game against Sweden, who had opened with a win against South Korea.

Toivonen can barely believe he's scored. Image: PA Images
Toivonen can barely believe he's scored. Image: PA Images

Ola Toivonen opened the scoring for Sweden and really gave us the prospect of Germany being the third champions in a row to be knocked out at the Group Stage of the next tournament.

Marco Reus brought the Germans level just minutes after half-time to give Joachim Low's side hope and a draw would be enough to keep them alive in the group.

With time running out though Real Madrid's Toni Kroos curled in a free kick routine to kick off brilliant celebrations but it's clear he's got inspiration from under 16 football in India:

Those two strikes are incredibly similar with the only big difference being that Kroos was slightly deeper in the area when he struck the ball, although he obviously wasn't under quite as much pressure.

After the match Low said, "This was a thriller, full of emotion, right up until the final whistle. Brandt hit the goal post just three minutes before the end too. We took out a defensive player and brought on an attacking player because we knew had to bring on everything we had to turn it round.

"We had a couple of great chances - Mario Gomez' header being one of them. The last couple of minutes were full of drama but those matches exist in football. We've had these situations in other tournaments as well. For the viewers that's part of the attractiveness of football."

Germany could still go out if they don't manage to beat South Korea in the final match on Wednesday afternoon, they'll hope the under 16s from India have some more tricks under their sleeves to copy.

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Topics: Football News, World Cup news, Toni Kroos, Germany, World Cup, Real Madrid