Defending champions done
Germany’s Cup run cut short; Mexico advances
Everyone was waiting for Germany to score another late World Cup-saving goal. It never came. Instead, the Germans became 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 in Kazan, Russia.
The four-time champions allowed a pair of injurytime 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 finished 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, nearly 500 miles away, 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.
Besides Germany this year, France in 2002, Italy in 2010 and Spain in 2014 were the previous defending champions to get eliminated in the group stage.
“We deserved to be eliminated,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said. “For us, this is a huge disappointment. But we have young players who are talented and have the potential to go forward. It happened to other nations before. We need to draw the right conclusions.”
Sweden 3, Mexico 0:
Sweden was so dominant against Mexico that the best Mexican plays of the night were made 600 miles away by South Koreans.
The Swedes rolled to a 3-0 rout in Yekaterinburg, never challenged in the second half, overtaking Mexico to win Group F just four nights after a gutwrenching last-minute loss to Germany. The result, combined with South Korea’s 2-0 upset of the Germans, meant Sweden and Mexico — the group runner-up — advanced.
Sweden makes its first appearance in the knockout stage since 2006. Mexico plays in the round of 16 for the seventh straight World Cup.
Brazil 2, Serbia 0: Worried no more, Brazil is through.
Paulinho and Thiago Silva scored a goal each in Moscow to give the fivetime champions a victory and first place in their group.
Brazil struggled in its opening two matches, first held to a 1-1 draw and then needing late goals to win the other. But they controlled this one, and it was a big relief to Tite.
“I’m apparently at peace,” the Brazil coach said. “I’m still going to have a drink tonight for sure, a caipirinha. I’ll allow myself.”
Paulinho gave his team the lead when he met a lofted ball from Philippe Coutinho in the 36th minute. The defensive midfielder let the ball bounce in front of him near the penalty spot and kicked his right leg in the air to tap it over the goalkeeper’s fingertips.
Silva later scored with a powerful header in the 68th from Neymar’s corner.
Brazil finished first in Group E and will next face Mexico in the round of 16 on Monday. Serbia was eliminated, finishing third in the group behind Switzerland.
Switzerland 2, Costa
Rica 2: Switzerland is through to a knockout game against Sweden at the World Cup. Half of its starting defense isn’t.
Switzerland qualified second in Group E behind Brazil despite twice losing the lead in a 2-2 draw in Nizhny Novgorod. The riveting game culminated with an injury-time penalty from Costa Rica captain Bryan Ruiz that hit the
DLcrossbar and went Swiss goalkeeper Sommer’s head.
Despite the late drama, a draw was enough to send Switzerland through to the knockout stage.
But the bad news for the Swiss: Yellow cards for captain Stephan Lichtsteiner and fellow defender Fabian Schaer — their second of the tournament — meant they’ll be suspended for the team’s round of 16 match against Sweden on Tuesday. in off Yann
On their own: Mexico defender Edson Alvarez’s 74th-minute own-goal against Sweden was the seventh time at this year’s World Cup that a player has sent the ball into his team’s net — a tournament record — and Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer made it eight on an unlucky bounce.