Day 14 Recaps: Germany Eliminated, Mexico Exposed But Through, Brazil First, Swiss Second in Group E

Mexico, who won their first two group games, needed a point to secure first place and looked to do so against Sweden, a team that needed a win and help to go through. In the 5th minute, Sweden had a chance when Emil Forsberg had a free kick curled at goal, only for Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa to punch it into the air and over the bar. Marcus Berg kept the pressure on, when his bicycle kick went just wide of frame. Berg had another shot later on in the half, only for Ochoa to stop it and force a corner. After a couple of chances missed by Mexico's attackers, Sweden got the lead in the 50th. Viktor Claesson flicked a low cross for Ludwig Augustinsson to slam it past Ochoa from close range. 10 minutes later, Berg collided with Hector Moreno in the box, and Andreas Granqvist made it 2-0 Sweden. It would become a rout when a long throw-in by Isaac Thelin hit Edson Alvarez, going into the net to make it 3-0. Sweden, with the win, clinched first, while Mexico waited for the other Group F result to see if they would make it through.

Meanwhile, Germany hoped to make the next round by simply beating South Korea. In the 19th, Korea nearly got the opening goal, when German keeper Manuel Neuer fumbled the ball after a free kick by Jung Woo-Young, only for Neuer to punch it out of play before a Korean player could tap it in. In the 47th, Germany's Leon Goretzka had a header that was saved by a diving keeper in Cho Hyun-woo, putting one hand on the ball to keep it out. As word got out that Sweden was winning, Germany needed to find a late winner, but to no avail for the next 40 minutes. Then, in stoppage time, Korea ended Germany's hopes, when a corner kick ball bounced to an open Kim Young-gwon, who hit it over Neuer. Initially ruled offsides, the call was reversed and Korea had the lead. In the 96th, Son Heung-Min hit the ball into an empty net to make it 2-0 when Neuer went into the attacking half, hoping to find an equalizer. With the result, Mexico advances, clinching the Group F runner-up spot. Germany, after winning the last World Cup, are eliminated.

The Group E matches were played later in the day, as Brazil-Serbia and Switzerland-Costa Rica. Serbia, needing a win to move on, played Brazil, who needed a win to clinch first. In the 25th, Neymar had tested Serbian keeper Vladimir Stojkovic with a strike, but Stojkovic easily parried it away. Philippe Coutinho hit a beautiful over-the-top ball to Paulinho in the 36th minute, and Paulinho chipped it over Stojkovic to give Brazil the lead. Neymar had another chance in the 57th, only for Stojkovic to make a fine reaction to prevent the game from being 2-0 Brazil. In the 61st, Serbia had a chance from Alexsandar Mitrovic that was cleared off the line before keeper Alisson got hold of the ball. Mitrovic had a great one-on-one chance with Alisson later on, but his strike was straight at the keeper. Thiago Silva sealed Brazil's win in the 68th, his header at the near post landing inside the goal. Brazil eliminated Serbia and clinched first place with the 2-0 result.

Costa Rica, already eliminated, looked to get at least a point from this World Cup, and they played with pride against Round of 16 bound Switzerland. Costa Rica sure put on a show in the first half, forcing Swiss keeper Yann Sommer into making great diving saves (at least 3 diving saves), along with a shot that banged off the crossbar. However, Costa Rica conceded the opening goal in the 31st minute, when Breel Embolo's header landed for Blerim Dzemaili to strike past keeper Keylor Navas. Kendall Watson's header from a corner in the 56th knotted the score at 1 apiece, though Switzerland retook the lead in the 88th when Josip Drmic's close range blast made it 2-1. A late penalty in the box allowed Costa Rica to end the game with a point, and they did. In the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Bryan Ruiz's PK hit the crossbar and off Sommer's head, in which his dive led to his own goal, as the ball rebounded into the net. This is now the 8th own goal of the World Cup, a new record.With the draw, Switzerland finished second in Group E.

Mesut Ozil (#10), Joshua Kimmich (#18), and Germany were all left with disappointment after South Korea's late winner, which sealed their group stage exit.