Auf wiedersehen to team in the history
SHOCKED BOSS LOEW ADMITS TOPPLED CHAMPIONS DESERVED THEIR EARLY EXIT
THIS time there was no last-minute reprieve. Only injury-time humiliation.
Germany are out of the World Cup in the first round.
Joachim Loew’s defending champions are going home after failing to take the shot at redemption Toni Kroos’ late winner against Sweden gave them.
Kim Young-gwon and Son Heungmin of Spurs scored in added time to give South Korea a famous win to take back to Seoul when they too head home early. Loew is left to contemplate how his defending champions will also be recognised as the worst Germany team in history. The mighty Mannschaft, four-time winners and semifinalists at each of the last four tournaments, have been knocked out in the group stages for the first time ever. They finished bottom of a group that sees Mexico and Sweden go through.
Loew said: “We didn’t deserve to win the title again and didn’t deserve to progress to the round of 16. “We are lagging behind. We were missing the classiness we normally have. That dynamism just wasn’t there. We deserve to be eliminated.
“It’s a huge disappointment. We prepared really well to be the defending champions who everyone wanted to hunt down. In the second half we stepped up the pressure to score a goal, but in terms of morale we were dead.
“I’m shocked. We have to admit this is a big defeat. Until quite recently we have been the most consistent team, always being in the final four.
“Now we’re out, and that brings absolute sadness. But it has happened to nations before.”
When Kroos struck to sink Sweden it seemed Germany’s invincibility was back after the shock of an opening defeat by Mexico.
But they barely raised a gallop in the first half against a side who needed a two-goal win and Mexico to beat Sweden to progress themselves.
And when Manuel Neuer spilled Jung Woo-young’s 25-yard free-kick, only the lightning reflexes of the Germany keeper to flick away the loose ball from Son prevented Shin Tae-yong’s side from going in ahead at the break.
Germany must have had the Herr-drier treatment at halftime. Leon Goretzka forced Cho Hyeon-woo into a fabulous fingertip save from his closerange header. Timo Werner flashed a volley wide and Mats Hummels would have scored had he made contact with head rather than shoulder when he rose unmarked eight yards out.
When the fourth official signalled six minutes of injurytime, the scene was set for another Germany late show.
Instead, saviour Kroos became the sinner when he tried to clear a corner and could only poke the ball back towards his own goal.
Kim fired past Neuer only to have his celebration ruined by an offside flag before VAR ensured justice prevailed.
Neuer joined Germany’s attack as they tried to turn the game around, but he was dispossessed by Ju Se-jong who launched a long ball forward and Son raced clear to score into an empty net.
“I feel great but at the same time a little bit empty,” said Korea coach Shin. “We’re not going to the round of 16 but we did manage to beat Germany, who rank No.1 with FIFA.
“I hope we can continue to progress in future. There is hope.”