South Korea pulls stunner, helps oust Germany
Mexico benefits to advance despite loss
KAZAN, Russia — Everyone was waiting for Germany to score another late World Cupsaving goal. It never came. Instead, the Germans have become the fourth defending champions in the last five tournaments to be eliminated in the group stage following a 2-0 loss to South Korea on Wednesday.
The four-time champions allowed a pair of injury-time goals while knowing a 1-0 victory would have been enough to advance because of the result in the other group match.
“It’s very, very hard to put it into words,” said Germany defender Mats Hummels, a member of the team that won in Brazil four years ago. “We believed until the end today. Even when it was 0-1, I think we kept trying to turn it all around.”
Germany ended up last in Group F while Sweden and Mexico advanced to the round of 16. South Korea was also eliminated despite the victory.
It was the first time Germany has been knocked out in the first round since 1938, though the team was not allowed to enter the 1950 tournament.
“It’s a dark day for German football,” Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said.
Even in Yekaterinburg, the Mexican fans expected Germany to score. They were still in position to advance despite trailing Sweden, but they were waiting — some with tears in their eyes — for Germany to
do the inevitable and ruin their chances of moving on.
That’s when South Korea stepped up.
Kim Young-gwon scored the first goal in the third minute of injury time, a goal that sent the Koreans cheering in Kazan and the Mexicans delirious in Yekaterinburg. Originally called out for offside, the goal was given after video review.
Son Heung-min made it 2-0 in the sixth minute of stoppage time after Neuer came up the field to help his teammates outside the South Korea box. Son tapped the ball into an empty net after a long pass from Ju Se-jong.
All four teams in the group had a chance to advance in games that were being played simultaneously, but Sweden’s 3-0 lead over Mexico put Germany in prime position to move on as well — if the Germans could score against the South Koreans. SWEDEN 3, MEXICO 0: In Yekaterinburg, Russia, Sweden was so dominant that the best Mexican plays of the night were made 600 miles away by South Koreans.
Sweden makes its first appearance in the knockout stage since 2006. Mexico plays in the round of 16 for the seventh straight World Cup, with its fans desperate for its first quarterfinal appearance in 32 years — the elusive “quinto partido,” or fifth game.
Ludwig Augustinsson volleyed a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa from close range five minutes into the second half, and captain Andreas Granqvist converted a penalty kick to help Sweden take control.
Mexico’s Edson Alvarez had an own goal in the 74th minute. SWITZERLAND 2,
COSTA RICA 2 (tie): In Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Switzerland qualified alongside Group E winner Brazil despite twice losing the lead in a riveting draw.
The game ended with a stoppage-time equalizer as Costa Rican captain Bryan Ruiz’s penalty kick hit the crossbar, then bounced off of goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s head and into the goal. The Costa Ricans had already been eliminated from the tournament but wanted to make sure they weren’t the only team to leave Russia without a goal. BRAZIL 2, SERBIA 0: In Moscow, Paulinho and Thiago Silva scored a goal each Wednesday to give the five-time champions first place in their group.
Brazil struggled in its opening two matches but finished first in Group E and will next face Mexico in the round of 16 on Monday in Samara. Serbia was eliminated, finishing third in the group behind Switzerland.