Kazan, Russia—Title holder Germany sensationally crashed out of the Fifa World Cup on Wednesday in one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history— failing to make it past the opening round for the first time since 1938.
In a stunning reverse by the footballing superpower who have reached either the final or semi-finals of every World Cup since 2002, the Germans stumbled to a 2-0 loss to South Korea that left them rooted to the bottom of Group F.
Meanwhile, in Seoul, South Korean fans rejoiced Thursday and called for national service exemptions after their team went out of the World Cup in a blaze of glory, eliminating the defending champions with a shock two-goal victory.
In one of the great World Cup upsets, Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min both scored in injury time to condemn footballing superpower Germany to their first opening-round exit in 80 years.
In another match, Brazil beat Serbia 2-0 to top Group E and cruise through to a last-16 meeting with Mexico.
Switzerland joined Brazil in the second round as runners-up after they drew 2-2 with Costa Rica in Nizhny Novogrod.
Germany went into the game knowing that a win by two clear goals would have seen them into the last 16. But instead it was Sweden and Mexico who advanced after the Swedes romped to a 3-0 win over the Mexicans in Yekaterinburg.
“The disappointment of us being eliminated is just huge,” said Germany coach Joachim Loew, who is now under pressure to quit despite signing a contract extension until 2022 last month.
“It’s too soon for me to answer, it will take a few hours to see things clearly, the disappointment is very deep in me,” the 58-year-old said when asked if he would resign.
“It is a really, really bitter evening for us,” defender Mats Hummels added. “The situation is very difficult to put into words.”
“We had plenty of opportunities, we broke our necks trying out there today,” he added.
Germany qualified for Russia with a perfect record of 10 wins, but Hummels said the team had not played well since they wrapped up qualification late last year.
Hummels said the warning signs had been there after Germany lost their opening game 1-0 to Mexico.
“We put ourselves in this situation after the Mexican game,” he admitted. “The last game we delivered a good performance was in the autumn of 2017.”
South Korea were pelted with toffees, a Korean insult, when they returned winless from Brazil 2014 and although they again leave early, after defeats to Mexico and Sweden, they finished above Germany on goal difference in Group F.
“We didn’t make it to the round of 16… but we sent the world number one packing,” said a headline in Seoul’s major Dong-A daily.
“We are so proud of you,” the newspaper said on its front page, adding the game “shook South Korea upside down.”
Germany went into the game knowing that a win by two clear goals would have seen them into the last 16. But instead it was Sweden and Mexico who advanced after the Scandinavians romped to a 3-0 win in the group’s other match.
The Taeguk Warriors, semi-finalists in 2002, brought the defending champions “down with them,” Yonhap news agency said, adding that Germany “unceremoniously bowed out of the tournament”.
South Korean social media were flooded by tens of thousands of messages from fans expressing joy and astonishment over a victory that had seemed utterly implausible before the match.
“This is far more shocking than our advance to the semi-final at the 2002 World Cup,” one commenter said.
“Who cares we won’t make it to the round of 16? We defeated Germany, the world number one!” added another.
“It was an honorable exit.”
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon joined them, tweeting on Thursday: “Reality beat our imagination today” and praising the South Korean footballers.
South Korean players swept the most-searched terms on major portals and dozens of online petitions were launched on the presidential website, urging Moon Jae-in to exempt star players, including Tottenham Hotspur forward Son and goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo, from their mandatory two-year military service.
“They gave us so much hope,” said one petitioner. “Their talent should not be wasted in the military!”