On Saturday, Kroos had given Germany what looked like a reprieve with his keepsake of a free kick to beat Sweden at the last minute.
Germany always finds a way, said those in the know as Kroos’s shot curled into the Swedish net as if guided by GPS. But that rush of pure adrenaline turned out to be a false dawn instead of the cathartic boost this talented but ultimately ineffectual team required.
With stars like Kroos, Mesut Özil and Mats Hummels, Germany won every match in qualifying for this World Cup, the first German team to do so. But it could not even make it out of the group phase in Russia.
Photo
It failed to score in both its opening 1-0 upset loss to Mexico and its defeat to South Korea, which was its first in a World Cup against an Asian team.
It appeared the Germans would need just one goal in the closing minutes on Wednesday to win and secure their place in the round of 16. Instead, they surrendered two goals in added time, to Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min, and lost.
Instead, Sweden and Mexico were the teams to qualify for the knockout phase from Group F. With Sweden defeating Mexico, 3-0, in Yekaterinburg, each finished with six points to South Korea and Germany’s three, with the Germans finishing last in the group on goal differential.
There seems to be a World Cup curse at work. Since the 1998 edition, the defending champion has been eliminated in the group phase on four occasions: France in 2002, Italy in 2010, Spain in 2014 and now Germany.
Advertisement Continue reading the main story
But this team’s early exit was still an undeniable shock, and Joachim Löw, the German coach since 2006, used that same word — “schock,” in his own language — to describe the experience on Wednesday.
“The disappointment of being eliminated is just huge,” said Löw, who added that the team deserved to go out early. “It turned sour. I must take responsibility for this.”
The surprise was visible on the painted faces of the German fans in the late-afternoon light in Kazan. Above all, it was etched on the features of the German players as they cried on the field or hunched forward, hands on their knees, trying to absorb the blow.
“Of course, we had high expectations for ourselves, but I don’t think we could fulfill it any of the three games,” said Hummels, the central defender who missed the Sweden game with an injury but returned to the lineup on Wednesday. “There was no game where we can say, ‘Yeah, we played the style we used to play and we expect ourselves to play.’ So we have to be disappointed in ourselves after such a tournament.”
A four-time World Cup winner, Germany was a finalist in 2002, third in 2006 and 2010 and the champion in 2014 after dealing the host nation of Brazil a 7-1 defeat in the semifinals, the memory of which still leaves many Brazilians wincing.
But Brazil will be the team going deeper in this World Cup after qualifying for the knockout round later on Wednesday, and some Brazilians were in no mood to deprive themselves of a little schadenfreude.
Some remembered that in a Happy New Year’s tweet in 2017, Kroos replaced the Nos. 1 and 7 with Brazilian and German flags. On Wednesday, the account for Brazil’s sports daily Lance wished Kroos a happy 2018, replacing the Nos. 2 and 0 with South Korean and German flags.
“Football is a simple game,” once said Gary Lineker, the former English player. “Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.”
Advertisement Continue reading the main story
On Wednesday, Lineker, now a BBC pundit, updated his old quip, tweeting: “Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans no longer always win. Previous version is confined to history.”
The Germans certainly have historical company, however. The list of defending champions to lose very early shows how difficult it is to maintain momentum and focus with national teams whose players practice and play together much less frequently than they do with their clubs.
Asked if this was the end of an era of German domination, Hummels shook his head and referred to the team’s loss in the 2016 European Championship after winning the World Cup.
“We didn’t dominate; we won one tournament; you have to be honest,” he said. “We’ve always been one of the strongest national teams. We wanted to prove that once again when we came back together again in September, but this tournament we haven’t been on the level we have to be at a World Cup. I think many teams have big problems, but somehow they survived. We did the same against Sweden when it was almost over for us, but we didn’t make it a second time.”
The struggled of soccer powers to remain soccer powers also reflects the increasingly global nature of the sport, where talent now finds its way to the highest level of the club game.
Son, the South Korean forward who scored the second goal on Wednesday, plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. Midfielder Koo Ja-cheol plays for F.C. Augsburg in Germany’s Bundesliga, where many of Germany’s stars make their excellent livings.
The intimidation factor is not what it was, but Germany was still among the rightful favorites entering this World Cup. Löw, at least in public on Wednesday, was grasping for answers, but did suggest self-satisfaction had played a role.
“It was a bit of overconfidence ahead of Mexico,” he said. “That we can press the button and win.”
Advertisement Continue reading the main story
Löw tried to press a few of his own in Russia. He benched Özil and midfielder Sami Khedira for the second game against Sweden and then, after noting publicly that they had shown a good reaction in practice, reinserted them in the lineup on Wednesday while leaving out Thomas Müller, a longtime national team fixture who had struggled to find his form in the first two games.
But the shuffling could not solve the team’s attacking issues. The Germans certainly had opportunities. They repeatedly struck at the South Korean goal on Wednesday afternoon, just as they had done against Mexico in the second half last week.
They took 26 shots to the South Koreans’ 11, but the finishing touch was lacking.
There was a low and dangerous shot from Kroos that was saved by the diving Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, who was excellent on Wednesday.
“Our coach told us that Germany probably wouldn’t think the Koreans are very strong,” Jo said. “I just tried to relax during the game and enjoy the experience.”
There were also unchallenged headers from Hummels and the substitute Mario Gómez that missed their target late in the game.
“We had enough chances to score,” Hummels said. “I had a big chance in the 87th minute. I have to score this one. This chance will haunt me for a few weeks.”
Müller, who had been sent on to replace Leon Goretzka in the 63rd minute, could not change the equation. But unlike the previous defending champions to be eliminated this early, there was a modern twist to the German exit.
This is the first World Cup in which the video assistant referee system, or V.A.R., is being used, and in the third minute of added time, the South Koreans took a corner kick that the Germans struggled to clear. Amid the crowd, Kroos, one of the sport’s most accurate passers, flicked the ball back toward his teammate Niklas Süle, who, surprised, let the ball go through his legs.
Advertisement Continue reading the main story
It rolled on to Kim, deep in the box. He had time to control it and then score into the upper right corner past the charging German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
The celebration was cut short when the line judge raised his flag to indicate offside, but referee Mark Geiger of the United States reviewed the sequence on a video screen after consulting via his earpiece with V.A.R. officials in Moscow. He ruled that Kim’s goal was valid.
Photo
The celebration resumed, and when it ended, Germany pushed forward in desperation, with Neuer, always eager to roam widely, abandoning his goal altogether and turning himself into an extra midfielder. He soon lost possession of the ball in the South Korean half, and Ju Se-jong lofted a long pass toward the empty German goal.
Son ran it down ahead of Süle and made it 2-0 with a flick of his left foot in the sixth and final minute of stoppage time.
Germany, as it turns out, does not always find a way, something that Kroos and his teammates will now have four years to reflect upon.
As the minutes ticked by after the defeat, Kroos remained with his hands on his hips until he was the last German player on the field. When he finally decided it was time, he walked slowly, painfully, toward the tunnel.
Then, like his team, he disappeared from view at this World Cup.
——
[See how Sweden beat Mexico by clicking here.]
Here’s how South Korea beat Germany (by Kevin Draper):
90+10’: Germany Is Out!
It’s all over! The defending World Cup champions are out!
Sweden and Mexico advance out of Group F.
Germany Devastated
Photo
90+6’: GOAL SOUTH KOREA!
Son Heung-Min doubles the South Korean lead. German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had gone forward as Germany desperately searched for an equalizer and winner.
Advertisement Continue reading the main story
South Korea booted the ball forward, and Son tracked it down with no German defenders back, and rolled it into the empty net.
90+5’: Hummels Goes Too High
Hummels with another header, but he pops it over the goal.
90+4’: GOAL SOUTH KOREA!
South Korea goal ruled offside — then onside after review! Off the corner, the ball squirted through to Kim Young-gwon on the back post. After taking a touch to steady himself, Kim blasts it off Neuer’s foot and in.
Man of the Match
Photo
90’: South Korea Killing Clock
South Korea has a corner kick, and as you might expect it’s walking about as slowly as possible to take it.
Lee Yong is down getting treatment, as American referee Mark Geiger gives 6 minutes of stoppage time.
88’: Kroos Keeps Trying
Toni Kroos with another shot from outside the box, but it’s too close to Jo Hyeon-Woo, who smothers it.
Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You will receive emails containing news content , updates and promotions from The New York Times. You may opt-out at any time. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters.
87’: Painful Miss for Ozil
Germany chance! Mats Hummels runs free into the box for a Mesut Ozil cross but mistimes the flick of his neck and the ball goes off his shoulder.
84’: Germany is Running Out of Time
Marco Reus and Toni Kroos have both taken dangerous looking shots from outside the box but can’t get them on frame.
The fact that Reus and Kroos are resorting to shots from outside the box tells you how stout the South Korean defense has been.
82’: Still Looking for a Good Shot
Germany once again camped out in front of the South Korea goal and gets two half-chances but can’t get off a solid shot.
Advertisement Continue reading the main story
80’: Back and Forth for Nothing
A chance for Germany on one end as a ball slips through the box. A chance for South Korea on the other, but the counter attack is wasted. Ten seconds later Germany is back in front of South Korea’s goal but is called offside.
78’: South Korea Goes Wide
Korea chance! Son Heung-Min drags his shot from the corner of the box just wide!
78’: Last Sub for Germany
Germany with their final change, pulling defender Jonas Hector for Julian Brandt.
76’: Other Game: Sweden Strikes Again
Mexico concedes another, and they’re being absolutely trounced by Sweden. Mexico really needs South Korea to hold on here.
Need This Energy on the Field
Photo
73’: Will This Work for South Korea?
South Korea consistently has 10 men behind the ball. Only Son Heung-Min is staying high in anticipation of a counter attack.
70’: Too High
Toni Kroos with a desperation 25-yard shot that goes well over.
68’: No Good
Mario Gomez with a powerful header, but it’s right at the South Korean goalkeeper.
Nice Save
Photo
67’: South Korea Attacks
Pulsing end-to-end action here, as both midfields seem to have disappeared, which perhaps isn’t surprising considering Germany has taken off two midfielders for forwards. South Korea is having a lot more success on the counter attack now.
65’: And Another One
Son Heung-Min goes down in the box and the referee blows the whistle … to call Son for diving. He’s yellow carded.
62’: Other Game: Sweden Scores Again
In the other game, Sweden has scored a penalty to go up 2-0. A German goal now would put Germany through.
Advertisement Continue reading the main story
62’: Time for Germany to Push
And now Thomas Müller on for Leon Goretzka. Germany really going for the jugular here.
56’: South Korea Subs for Injured Player
Koo Ja-Cheol hobbles off the field with support, replaced by Hwang Hee-Chan, who plays for Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.
51’: Germany’s Shot Goes Wide
After some nice interplay, Timo Werner slices wide a volley from the penalty spot. They haven’t scored, but Germany’s players have already had better chances than in the first half.
50’: Goal … in the Other Game
Sweden scores in the other game! This should light a fire under Germany, because as things stand they’re going out of the World Cup.
48’: Another Yellow for South Korea
This time it’s Moon Seon-Min. It’s South Korea’s third yellow card of the day and ninth of the tournament, the most of any team.
47’: Not This Time
German chance! Leon Goretzka pops free eight yards out and gets a solid head to a cross, but Jo Hyeon-Woo dives and pushes it aside.
46’: Good Try
South Korea immediately tests Manuel Neuer from outside the box, but this time he comfortably holds onto the ball.
46’: Second Half Underway
Was Jogi Low’s halftime talk enough to inspire the Germans to a goal?
Halftime: Beginning of the End for Germany?
Germany has had all the possession but just two shots on goal, neither of them particularly dangerous. Even if Germany advances to the knockout round, it’s hard to imagine it going much further given how weak its attack has been.
In the other Group F game, Mexico-Sweden are also tied 0-0. As things stand, Germany and Sweden would both have 4 points, but Germany would advance on tiebreakers.
Advertisement Continue reading the main story
45+3: Not Enough Time
After three minutes of stoppage time, Mark Geiger blows the half to a close. Still no goals on either side.
43’: In a Nutshell
Timo Werner slams an open shot after the whistle is blown for a foul … and it goes off the post, which is a pretty good metaphor for the German attack this morning.
41’: Sigh
Germany seems to have fixed the “vulnerable to counter attacks behind its full backs” problem but not the “can’t really score a goal” one.
39’: Tangled Up
After a corner Mats Hummels has the ball six yards out from goal but can’t get it out from his feet for a shot before South Korean keeper Jo Hyeon-Woo pounces on it.
Someone Score … Please?
Photo
37’: One Good Note for Germany
At least you can say this about the German performance: I can’t remember the last time South Korea had the ball for more than about four seconds.
36’: Bored Yet?
Both teams need as many goals as they can get, but neither squad has come particularly close so far. This quiet half isn’t what we were expecting (or hoping for).
35’: South Korean Defenders Getting it Done
Every single German pass, cross, shot or dribble near the South Korean goal has been met ably by a South Korean defender.
32’: Where Are the Good Shots?
Germany is just camped out in front of the South Korean goal but hasn’t come particularly close to finding a quality shot.
Advertisement Continue reading the main story
26’: Germany Has the Edge
According to FIFA, Germany has had 70 percent of the possession, and has completed four times as many passes as South Korea.
23’: Second Yellow for South Korea
Now Lee Jae-Sung picks up a yellow card. South Korea seems to be fouling Germany every few minutes.
19’: That Was Close
Manuel Neuer almost gifted South Korea a goal!
Koo Ja-Cheol put a free kick directly at Neuer, but he fumbled it. Neuer was barely able to recover in time and punch the rebound away from an onrushing Son Heung-Min.
What is it with the best goalkeepers in the World at this World Cup? Against Portugal, David de Gea also bobbled a shot from outside the box, but unlike Neuer, his error resulted in a goal.
Christopher Clarey: Neuer 2018 is still a long way from Neuer 2014. Hard to imagine him struggling to hold on to a free kick like that in peak form.
14’: Missed Chance for Germany
Germany misses a golden opportunity. After dispossessing South Korea near its own goal, Timo Werner is wide open on the back post. But Leon Goretzka opts for a pass on the ground that is deflected out instead of crossing it to Werner.
13’: Germany Dominating Possession
Korea made a few attacking forays early, but the last 5 minutes Germany has had the entirety of the possession.
Fans Locked In But Not Loud
Christopher Clarey: So Joachim Löw made his point with Ozil and Khedira by benching them last game. We’ll see if they take the hint back on the field.
Advertisement Continue reading the main story
Nice atmosphere in the stadium, but once you’ve been to a Peru game, everything else seems quiet
9’: South Korea Gets First Yellow Card of Day
Emphatic yellow card for Jung Woo-Young, who took out Jonas Hector sliding for the ball near midfield.
8’: Slow Start
A cagey start, with neither team having a good attempt on goal yet.
4’: Weather Causing Cramps?
It was above 80 degrees at kickoff in Kazan. After their grueling victory over Sweden, a number of German players talked about their tiredness and cramps, which is perhaps why they made five changes to their starting lineup.
0’: Kickoff!
We are off! Germany is in green, while South Korea is in red.
No one could accuse Italy in 1982 of starting the World Cup with brio nor Spain in 2010 and most eventual winners have suffered some extraordinarily knife-edge moments on their way to victory. None, however, have looked as cooked after 180 minutes of football plus an extra four of added time on Saturday night as Germany. Down to 10 men against Sweden after Jerome Boateng's overdue red card, Toni Kroos hauled them off the canvas and threw a divine roundhouse that unexpectedly won the game and kept their hopes of a defence alive.
That moment of class doesn't obliterate all that preceded it but in truth, while attack, midfield and defence have oscillated between flakiness, sterility and occasional inspiration, enough signs of the latter (including Julian Brandt's woodwork rattling power that needs only a minor recalibration to be effective) give them a puncher's chance. We have had enough evidence over the years - USA 94, France 98, Euro 2000, Euro 2004 - that the old cliche about never writing off the Germans is the most blatant halfwittery. When they look bad, they sometines, but not always, are bad.
We will find out today whether Joachim Löw has been able to instil any coherence into the general play that makes them a proper threat as a team rather than relying so heavily on Kroos. As for South Korea, one would hope that they could channel the level of commitment that Alex Ferguson once called 'obscene' when already relegated West Ham spitefully hobbled Manchester United in the title race.
They had their moments against Mexico, unsettling the defence and should have managed a draw against Sweden. Son Heung-min has the kind of relentless play, and Bundesliga experinece, to know how to cow Germany's brittle defence. But they are going to need spirit, ambition and a clinical ruthlessness that has been all too absent to knock the champions out and give themselves the slimmest hope of going through.
Copy Link Icon
Germany vs South Korea: Live Updates, Score and Reaction from World Cup Game
Germany (National Football) vs South Korea (National Football)
Kazan
Defending champions Germany can still finish top of Group F, but they will need a convincing win over South Korea in Kazan on Wednesday to give themselves a shot at that. Joachim Low’s side must beat South Korea and rely on Sweden beating group leaders Mexico with a two-goal swing to leapfrog El Tri into first place. Shin Tae-yong's side are without a point to their name after two games of the World Cup and need a win to stand any chance of staying in the competition.
Defending world champions Germany crashed out of the World Cup after a shock 2-0 loss to South Korea on Wednesday, courtesy of two stoppage-time goals. South Korea's Kim Young-gwon scored in added time following a video review and Son Heung-min added another goal just before the final whistle.The four-time winners, who had not been eliminated in a World Cup first round since 1938, were a shadow of their once dominant selves, managing only two goals in their three group games.South Korea Goal denied for off-side. VAR into action again.Six minutes added as stoppage time. It is changed to nine minutesCorner for South Korea.Mats Hummels failed to make contact with his head and shouldered it wide of Korea goal. Good delivery from OzilCorner for South Korea. Easily cleared out by GermanyNow Toni Kroos shot it over the crossbar from outside the box, Germany looked frustrated and are shooting more and more long rangersThis time Marco Reus' long ranger went wide of Korea goal. Time is running out for the defending championsThomas Muller flicked it wide of Korea goal with a headerSubstitute Hwang Hee-Chan is replaced by Ko Yo-han for South KoreaCorner for Germany. Calmly collected by goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-wooThird and final change for Germany. Jonas Hector is replaced by Julian BrandtSweden have virtually sealed their spot in round of 16 as they now lead Mexico 3-0 in the other Group F matchCorner for Germany. Cleared out comfortably by KoreaToni Kroos shot it just over the Korean crossbar from the top of the boxMoon Seon-min is replaced by Ju Se-Jong for South KoreaMore news from the other match: Sweden now take 2-0 lead over Mexico to jump to top of the groupSouth Korea skipper Son Heung-min is booked for 'diving'Corner for Germany. Mesut Ozil with the delivery, but Timo Werner shot it wideSecond change for Germany. Leon Goretzka is replaced by Thomas MullerToni Kroos hit his own teammate Leon Goretzka with the shot. Another good build-up ended in a whimperSami Khedira is replaced by Mario Gomez for GermanyA forced change for South Korea. Injured Koo Ja-cheol is replaced by Hwang Hee-ChanIn the other Group F match, Sweden has taken 1-0 lead over Mexico.Corner for Germany. Toni Kroos with the delivery, again easily headed out by KoreaTimo Werner shot it wide of Korea goal from the area. Great chance to give Germany the lead.Moon Seon-min is booked for a foul on Toni KroosA superb save by Jo Hyeon-woo to deny Leon Goretzka. Jo dived to his right to palmed it away from the goalSecond half underway....Three minutes added as stoppage timeWerner hit the Korean post, but it came just after the ref whistled for a foul by Hector against Korean playerKorean keeper Jo Hyeon-woo hold on to the ball after a chaos in front of the goal following a German corner kickTimo Werner's attempt from the right inside the Korean area was deflected over the crossbar.Germany making incursion after incursion into Korean area, but finding it tough to create clear chance on goalHandball by Reus just outside the Korean box. Free-kick for KoreaToni Kroos with the corner kick, headed out of danger by Korean defenderTimo Werner's cross-in from the left was blocked out. Corner for GermanySon Heung-min skied it over the German crossbar again, from a close range this time. Another good move from the Koreans. Chance Missed!Lee Jae-sung booked, second of the game for South KoreaThe ball was shot well over the German crossbar from the resultant cornerJung Woo-young's shot fumbled out of Manuel Neuer's hand. A nervy moment for Germany, but somehow Neuer cleared it out for a Korean cornerFree-kick for South Korea from 30 yards out. Khedira penalised for a high bootCorner for Germany, after Werner's cross-in was cleared out. Kroos with the delivery, but Sami Khedira's header was a weak one and no problem for Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo to collect itFree-kick for Germany from the right top of the Korean area. Toni Kroos with the delivery and it is cleared out by Korean defenderEarly booking for South Korea, Jung Woo-young cautioned for a dangerous challenge against OzilReus tried a volley from the left flank of the Korean area, but it went well wide of the goalTimo Werner found Marco Reus inside the Korean area. Good defending from Korea, ended as a throw-in for the Germans.Throw-in for Korea near the Germany box. Early incursion into the German final third by the KoreansHere we go...*Time for National Anthems** Four-time winners Germany must beat South Korea by two or more goals in Kazan to guarantee advancing after a shaky start in Russia.Jo Hyeon-woo; Lee Yong, Yun Young-sun, Kim Young-gwon, Hong Chul; Lee Jae-sung, Jung Woo-young, Jang Hyun-soo, Moon Seon-min; Koo Ja-cheol, Son Heung-min (capt). Coach: Shin Tae-yong (KOR)Manuel Neuer (capt); Joshua Kimmich, Mats Hummels, Niklas Suele, Jonas Hector; Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos; Leon Goretzka, Mesut Ozil, Marco Reus; Timo Werner. Coach: Joachim Loew (GER)Mark Geiger (USA)Germany forward Thomas Mueller was dropped for their crunch Group F clash against South Korea but his fellow World Cup winners Mezut Ozil and Sami Khedira were recalled to the starting lineup. Mueller has scored 10 goals over two World Cups but was relegated to the bench after drawing a blank in Germany's first two matches in Russia, with attacking midfielder Leon Goretzka selected instead.Ozil was also dropped for the Sweden game but has been restored to the midfield for the clash with the Koreans. Niklas Suele replaced the suspended Jerome Boateng in central defence alongside Mats Hummels, who returns in place of Antonio Ruediger after missing the last-gasp win over Sweden with a neck injury.For South Korea, Jung Woo-young comes into the midfield for Ki Sung-yueng after the captain was ruled out of the match by a calf strain. Son Heung-min will wear the captain's armband for the South Koreans.Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Group F match between South Korea and Germany. The match starts at 19:30 IST.
