The 2014 World Cup champion, Germany, met its tragic end in this year’s World Cup after suffering a 2-0 defeat to South Korea. For four-time world-champion Germany, this was not just a defeat. This was a complete disaster.
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AP/DPA/ULRICH PERREY
Soccer fans react after Germany was eliminated from the World Cup as they watch the group F World Cup match between South Korea and Germany during an event in Hamburg, northern Germany, Wednesday, June 27, 2018.
KAZAN, WEDNESDAY – The 2014 World Cup champion, Germany, met its tragic end in this year’s World Cup after suffering a 2-0 defeat to South Korea at the Kazan Arena in Kazan, Russia, on Wednesday (27/6/2018) night, Jakarta time. For four-time world-champion Germany, this was not just a defeat. This was a complete disaster.
The defeat resulted in Germany sinking to a new low in its World Cup history. It is now at the bottom of the group standings and has failed to make it beyond the group stage. Before the loss to South Korea, Joachim Löw’s squad was defeated by Mexico 1-0 and won against Sweden 2-1.
Despite winning against Germany, South Korea could not advance to the Round of 16. Before leaving Russia with pride for having defeated the defending champion, South Korea was defeated by Sweden 1-0 and Mexico 2-1. South Korea finished in third place in the group’s standings as it scored more goals than Germany.
Sweden comes out on top of Group F and Mexico is the runner-up. In its third match in Ekaterinburg Arena, Ekaterinburg, Sweden beat Mexico 3-0.
Germany’s tragic fate sustained the curse of a defending champion bowing out of a group stage. Germany followed in the footsteps of 2006 champion Italy, which saw an early group stage exit at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, 2010 champion Spain, which was eliminated in the group stage of the 2014 World Cup, and 1998 champion France, which was eliminated in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup. Only Brazil escaped the so-called curse, having won the 2002 World Cup and advancing to the quarterfinals of the following World Cup in 2006.
AP PHOTO/AHN YOUNG-JOON
South Korean soccer fans celebrate after South Korea scored the second goal against Germany during their group F World Cup soccer match, at a public viewing venue in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, June 28, 2018.
The failure suffered by German team captain Manuel Neuer and his teammates in Russia was even worse than their fates in the 1938 World Cup in Italy and the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. Germany made it as far as the Round of 16 in 1938 and the second round in 1978.
Total failure
After suffering its loss against Mexico, Germany tried everything it could to stay in the game, including by moving its headquarters from Moscow to Sochi on the edge of the Black Sea in southern Russia. The move had a positive effect, as Germany then won against Sweden.
In its two matches against Mexico and Sweden, Löw observed that there was much left to be desired in “Der Panzer” squad’s performance. In Germany’s third match against South Korea, Löw put wingers Leon Goretzka and Marco Reus in the starting line-up. Mats Hummels and Niklas Sule were the central defenders and Jonas Hector was the left defender. All five players were not in the starting line-up in the match against Sweden.
Against Germany’s 4-2-3-1 formation, which remained unchanged throughout the group stage, South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong chose to keep the team’s 4-4-2 formation that it had also used against Mexico.
AFP PHOTO/JORGE GUERRERO
Argentine referee Hernan Maidana goes between Sweden\'s midfielder Albin Ekdal (left) and Mexico\'s defender Edson Alvarez during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F soccer match between Mexico and Sweden at the Ekaterinburg Arena in Ekaterinburg on June 27, 2018.
Germany was visibly chasing hard for victory against South Korea. It created many opportunities to score goals and yet did not use them well. The pressure then became astronomical in minute 90. Meanwhile, Sweden had already scored 3 goals against Mexico by minute 74. If Germany scored just one goal and won the match, they would have kicked Mexico out of the World Cup.
Facing such high pressure, Germany seemed to have lost its focus and sense of grandeur as a tournament specialist that had always come through in moments of crisis. The South Korean Taeguk Warriors exploited Germany’s loss of focus to score a goal in injury time (at minute 90+3) thanks to Kim Young-gwon’s efforts.
Seemingly caught in a panic, Neuer left his goalpost and ran deep into South Korea’s defense line. Ironically, Neuer lost while fighting for the ball with South Korean Joo See-jong. Seeing the unguarded German goalpost, See-jong kicked the ball for a long assist to Son Heung-min, who then scored another goal at minute 90+6.
Defeating Germany was payback for South Korea’s loss in the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, where South Korea surprised soccer fans by defeating Italy in the quarterfinals. “We do not make it to the knockout stage. However, we can go home with pride after defeating the defending champion,” said Tae-young after the match as quoted by FIFA.com.
AFP PHOTO/JORGE GUERRERO
Sweden\'s forward Marcus Berg (left) and Mexico\'s defender Hector Moreno (right) vie for the ball during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F football match between Mexico and Sweden at the Ekaterinburg Arena in Ekaterinburg on June 27, 2018.
Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, who shined with his six saves, said that the victory against Germany was the perfect end to a great match. “I have never been in a match this great in my career. I was helped by the coach and other players. We were extraordinary and we deserved the win,” he said.
Löw said it was difficult to accept the defeat and that he would be responsible for Germany’s failures in Russia. Germany had done everything it could to win but South Korea was highly disciplined and performed well. “I am at a loss of words,” he told a press conference after the match as quoted by FIFA.com.
Mexican striker Javier Hernandez said he was grateful that the team made it to the Round of 16, continuing a tradition since the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
