Germany knocked out of first round for first time in 80 years
Everyone was waiting for Germany to score another late World Cup-saving 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 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 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,” German 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. BRAZIL 2, SERBIA 0 >> Paulinho and Thiago Silva scored a goal each to give five-time champions Brazil a victory over Serbia and first place in group E.
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.
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 in Samara. Serbia was eliminated, finishing third in the group behind Switzerland. SWITZERLAND 2, COSTA RICA 2>> Switzerland qualified for the round of 16 despite twice losing the lead in a draw with Costa Rica, which had already been eliminated.
Costa Rica scored on a Bryan Ruiz penalty kick in stoppage time to tie the match, but it didn’t affect Switzerland’s progression as the second-place team in group E. Switzerland will next play Sweden.
Bjerim Dzemaili slammed in Switzerland’s first goal from close range after being set up by a header from Breel Embolo. AGUILAR OUT FOR COLOMBIA >> Midfielder Abel Aguilar won’t play for Colombia
today against Senegal because of a left adductor injury. Aguilar was injured in the first half of Colombia’s 3-0 victory over Poland last Sunday in Kazan and had to be stretchered off the field. Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said Aguilar wouldn’t be available in the team’s decisive final group match in Samara, but he did not rule the 33-year-old veteran out of the rest of the tournament should Colombia advance. TUNISIA SHORT HANDED >> Tunisia is down to one healthy goalkeeper and coach Nabil Maaloul is hoping FIFA will allow him to bring in another for his squad’s final World Cup game against Panama. Farouk Ben Mustapha, who started in goal in Tunisia’s 5-2 loss to Belgium, has been ruled out of today’s match against Panama because of a knee injury during training on Tuesday. That leaves Aymen Mathlouthi as Tunisia’s only healthy keeper because Moez Hassen, who played in the World Cup opener, is sidelined with a shoulder injury.