We deserved to go out: German FA
A message on the German Football Association Twitter account admitted the team deserved to be eliminated from the World Cup.
The German Football Association (DFB) has apologised to the nation the morning after Joachim Loew’s side were sensationally knocked out of the World Cup with a 2-0 defeat to South Korea.
The DFB Twitter account posted a message saying: “Dear fans! We are just as disappointed as you! A World Cup is only comes around every four years, and we expected so much more. We are sorry for not playing like world champions, and as painful as it is, we deserve to be out.
“Your support across the globe was incredible. In Rio 2014 we celebrated together, but sometimes in football you have to accept defeat and admit that your opponents were better.”
Head coach Loew’s contract with Die Mannschaft runs until 2022, but the 58-year-old wouldn’t be drawn on his future after the defeat in Kazan.
› Football is a simple game. Twentytwo men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans no longer always win. Previous version is confined to history. GARY LINEKAR, former England footballer and broadcaster
› No matter what we say now, it will not be right. We are seriously disappointed and shocked. We are responsible for that. It is embarrassing that we will be eliminated from the table in this group. THOMAS MUELLER, Germany midfielder
› You can always go out early with a bad team, but not with a team like this one!! @DFB_Team Honest assessment must start !!! Leadership? Personality? Mentality? MICHAEL BALLACK, former Germany captain
› Honestly, all of us are very sad tonight. ANGELA MERKEL, Chancellor of Germany
LOEW’S TEAM MOCKED AFTER DOWNFALL
The internet turned cruel for Germany fans on Thursday as online mockery swept the globe following the team’s shock World Cup elimination.
“Don’t mention the VAR,” was a common refrain, while Brazilian media gleefully took their revenge for Brazil’s 7-1 humiliation by Germany in 2014.
“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...” read a tweet from Fox Sports Brasil that ran to 272 characters.
“Germany’s fastest exit from Russia since 1943,” posted one user, while another tweeted a picture of Germany towels reserving all the seats on an empty plane.
Mexico fans were particularly delighted after South Korea’s last-gasp win allowed them to qualify for the last 16 behind Group F winners Sweden -— while Germany finished rock bottom. Aeromexico offered a 20% discount on flights to South Korea, tweeting an image of a plane with doctored “AeroCorea” livery and the slogan, “We love you Korea!”
Ryanair tweeted a picture of an unhappy Germany fan, offering “Loew fares” — a reference to German coach Joachim Loew.
NEUER UNWILLING TO REVEL IN PAST GLORIES
Manuel Neuer believes it would be “bitter and pathetic” for Germany’s players to revel in their past glories in the aftermath of their dreadful 2018 World Cup campaign. “We had it in our own hands, but we did not make it,” said Neuer, who confirmed his intention to remain available for international selection. “To revel in the past brings us nothing, that’s bitter and pathetic. Even if it had worked today, there would have been halts in the knockout phase. We just did not deserve it.”