2018 World Cup: Defending champions Germany crash out at group stage

The 2014 World Cup reigning champions, Germany has bowed out of the ongoing 2018 World Cup in Russia after stunning loss to South Korea.

Little known South Korean team thrashed the heavy weight Germany 2-0 at the group stage duringthe day-14 games.

It is the first time Germany have failed to qualify from the group stages at a World Cup since 1938 as the holders became the latest defending champions to crash out early.

“This is a huge disappointment for us – there was deathly silence in the dressing room,” said Joachim Loew, Head Coach of the German Manschaft.

“Congratulations to our opponents, the Swedes and the Mexicans. “We were rightly eliminated from the tournament.

“We had many goal possibilities, but we could not force the goal.”he added

After 12 years in charge, Germany’s Head Coach will obviously be under intense pressure to resign in the coming days, despite having only signed a contract extension until 2022 last month.

The Match

The Germans needed to beat Korea by two clear goals but  wasted a series of chances in a tense match that saw a pale version of the world champions, South Korea sent big Germany packing

Loew caused a surprise by leaving midfield attacker, Thomas Mueller on the bench for the first time since 2012 after his underwhelming displays against Mexico and Sweden.

But by the end of a frustrating opening half, Loew was left desperately studying his options

Germany suffered the first of several scares after South Korea won a free kick at the quarter hour when Sami Khedira’s boot connected with the head of Jung Wooyoung.

From 30 yards out, South Korean Jung exhebited a free kick but  World Cup-winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer fumbled and another Korean player, Son raced to pounce making it a goal.

German team, full  of football superstars could only looked on in shock in the final minutes of the match as  referee ended the match.

Bookmakers put it that  a combination of over-confidence, stubbornness and recklessness played in disfavour of the German team.

Germany’s loss makes them the latest victims of ‘The Curse of the Defending Champions’, an unbelievable coincidence that has seen numerous titleholders crashing out of the tournament in the group stages, four years after winning the World Cup.

In 1998:France won the World Cup

2002:Knocked out in the Group stage

2006:Italy won the World Cup

2010:Knocked out in the Group stage

2010:Spain won World Cup

2014:knocked out in the Group stage

2014:Germany won World Cup

2018:Knocked out in the Group stage

Meanwhile the fate of Africa at the ongoing World Cup will be determined some hours ahead as the Teranga Lions of Senegal, the only African team left in the tournament will throw weights with Colombia in their quest to migrate to the 8th finals or not.

Benly Anchunda

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