Fifa
Defending champions Germany suffered a shocking exit from the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia on Wednesday.
Updated : Jun 28, 2018, 01:16 AM IST
South Korea on Wednesday pulled off a shocker, defeating Germany 2-0 in their final Group F clash and eliminating the defending World Cup champion. The German national team needed a win to advance into the round of 16 after being stunned by Mexico 1-0 in the opener and earning a last-gasp 2-1 win over Sweden.
To get the win, coach Joachim Low made five changes to his starting lineup, putting in Mesut Ozil, Leon Goretzka, Sami Khedira, Mats Hummels and Niklas Süle in place of Thomas Muller, Julian Draxler, Sebastian Rudy, Jerome Boateng and Antonio Rüdiger, respectively.
Twitter was in disbelief after the defending champions were knocked out.
Never felt so awkward being a South Korean married to a German...#KORGER
— Jung Hawon (@allyjung) June 27, 2018
South Korea knocking out Germany in Korean Commentary is gold #Worldcup #KORGER pic.twitter.com/jDdSsevrZ1
— (@ERNESTHDGAMER) June 27, 2018
This was German officials taunting Sweden after their win last match and now Sweden & Mexico are through to the last 16 and Germany are going home. #MEXSWE #KORGER pic.twitter.com/gTSfRrxNwm
— Maruf Ashiful islam (@Maruf26) June 27, 2018
Germany can't even get to Moscow in the summer time. #KORGER
— Darth Putin (@DarthPutinKGB) June 27, 2018
"Come on mate, back to Arsenal..."#KORGER pic.twitter.com/HIq8npyRsC
— TheSportsman Transfers (@TSMTransfers) June 27, 2018
We hereby ask #FIFA to make the next #WorldCup open only to ten teams
— Cricket Germany (@Cricket_Germany) June 27, 2018
We will be removing the German category from Pornhub following their humiliating elimination. #WorldCup
— Pornhub ARIA (@Pornhub) June 27, 2018
Good bye #GER#KORGER pic.twitter.com/wGstMESuqC
— 9GAG Football (@9GAGFootball) June 27, 2018
South Korea, for its part, needed a miracle to qualify for the next round; in the end, although neither side qualified, it was a match that will be remembered for years to come in the Asian nation.
In the first half, Germany controlled the ball 75 percent of the time, while South Korea had the best shots on goal. Yet no goals came.
The second half was a tight affair, with the Taegeuk Jeonsa putting on a great defensive performance, waiting for Die Mannschaft's counter attack. With no option other than a victory to advance, Low inserted Mario Gomez and Muller for Khedira and Goretzka.
And still no goals. Then the goals rained down.
Two minutes into stoppage time, South Korea's Kim Young-gwon opened the scoring after German players failed to clear the ball. The official had to check with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) before confirming the goal, but it was good.
Four minutes later, Son Heung-Min doubled the score on a counter attack, putting the ball in the wide open goal. This is the first time Germany has not made it past the round robin phase of the tournament since 1938.
(Inputs from efeservicios)