Defending champ Germany was knocked out of Fifa world cup by South Korea.
Defending champions Germany was knocked out of the Fifa World Cup after suffering a stunning 0-2 defeat against South Korea. Stoppage-time goals from Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min finished off Joachim Loew’s sorry Germany side which finished bottom of the group on three points
This is the first time in 80 years that Germany has been eliminated in the opening round itself.
Germany would have progressed with a win at the Kazan Arena but barely looked capable of scoring against the Koreans, let alone going on to successfully defend the title they won in Brazil four years ago.
In the final frantic minutes in front of 41,835 flabbergasted fans, Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min finished off Joachim Loew’s Germany side with two stoppage-time goals to consign them to finishing bottom of the group on three points.
The Germans, who have won four World Cups and finished runners-up four times, entered this year’s tournament heavily backed to retain their title.
Toni Kroos, the hero in the 2-1 win over Sweden, tried desperately to spark his side in the second half but was denied by South Korea’s Cho Hyun-woo in the 88th minute, one of a number of fine saves by the keeper.
“We were playing for the Korean people,” said Cho, a cult figure at home for his ostentatious, orange bouffant.