MEXICO, SWEDEN ADVANCE IN WORLD CUP
KAZAN, Russia — Reigning champions Germany crashed out of the World Cup in the first stage on Wednesday for the first time in 80 years after a stunning 2-0 defeat by South Korea.
Germany, one of the favourites to triumph in Russia, finished bottom in Group F after Sweden beat Mexico 3-0 in the other match to qualify for the last 16 along with their opponents.
Germany coach Joachim Loew, who has a contract until 2022, did not rule out resigning after the four-times champions became the fourth holders in the last five World Cups to go out in the group stage.
“It is too early for me to answer that question,” he told ZDF.
“We need a couple of hours to see things clearly. The disappointment is deep inside me. I couldn’t imagine that we would lose to South Korea.”
Loew’s side found it tough to break down South Korea’s stubborn defence despite dominating possession at the Kazan Arena and were shocked by late goals from Kim Gwon Young and Son Heung Min, which were not enough to help their side through.
Kim stabbed home from close range in stoppage time but was initially flagged offside. The goal was given after
an agonizing delay when the referee analysed it via the video assistant referee system and saw the last touch had come off a Germany player.
Then with Germany fragmented and desperate, Ju Se Jong robbed goalkeeper Manuel Neuer of the ball inside Korea’s half and released Son, who ran through and rolled home.
This is the first time four-times champions Germany have failed to make it through the opening round of the tournament since 1938, featuring in every edition between 1954 and 2018.
“There is disappointment, the disappointment is huge,” Loew told reporters.
“In this tournament we didn’t deserve to retain the title. We didn’t deserve to move into the round of 16.
“We were eliminated, not because we didn’t want to win, as you saw in the second half we did, but we never had a chance to take the lead when we were lagging behind.”
Toni Kroos’ stoppage time winner against Sweden kept Germany’s chances alive but they only had themselves to blame after a dire and wasteful display against South Korea.
The Asian side gained revenge of sorts after Germany eliminated them at their own tournament in 2002 at the semi-final stage.
Defender Mats Hummels had two late chances but could not find the net as Germany tumbled out and the return home
now on Thursday instead of ater the July 15 final.
“It is very difficult to find words. We believed until the end,” said Hummels. “But the last game where we were convincing was in autumn 2017, that is quite a while ago.”
Sweden beat Mexico, both reach World Cup last 16
YEKATERINBURG, Russia — Sweden reached the last 16 of the World Cup finals on Wednesday in Yekaterinburg with a 3-0 win over Mexico who also go through because holders Germany failed to beat South Korea.
Ludwig Augustinsson scored five minutes into the second half converting Marcus Berg’s cross.
Hector Moreno then brought down Berg on 62 minutes and Andreas Granqvist slammed home the penalty to make it 2-0.
With 16 minutes left it was 3-0 when Edson Alvarez scored past his own keeper after Isaac Kiese Thelin had backheaded the ball into the area.
Sweden win Group F with six points. Mexico finish second, also with six. Germany and South Korea go home on three each after South Korea’s 2-0 win in their game.
Brazil beat Serbia 2-0 to reach World Cup last 16, meet Mexico
MOSCOW — Record winners Brazil avoided the fate of title holders Germany when they booked their place in the World Cup knock-out stages with a 20
victory over Serbia on Wednesday.
Paulinho and Thiago Silva were on target for the Selecao which only at times showed its huge potential but did enough to finish top of Group E, ahead of Switzerland, with Serbia and Costa Rica eliminated.
Brazil on Monday in Samara take on Mexico who finished second in Group F from which the Germans were stunningly eliminated earlier in the day. The Swiss, who drew 2-2 with Costa Rica in the other game, now face group F winners Sweden on Tuesday in St Petersburg.
The five-time winners Brazil had flirted with disaster early on in a 1-1 with Switzerland and a stoppage-time 2-0 against Costa Rica, with criticism on superstar Neymar.
But, with Neymar setting up the second goal and blowing kisses after the final whistle, they eventually came through on the night in Moscow’s Spartak Stadium and don’t even have to face Germany as feared in the last 16 — four years after being humiliated 7-1 by them.
“It was a good performance, the game gives you confidence,” Brazil coach Tite said. “You have to believe in the process of building up the team.”
Man-of-the-match Paulinho said he had nothing to say about Germany’s exit but rather that “we want to move forward. We took another step and qualified.”
Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic said: “We tried to win against a powerhouse in modern football and we came up short.”