Defending world champions Germany have crashed out of the 2018 World Cup at the group stages after losing 2-0 to Korea Republic in their final Group F game.
Joachim Low opted to drop Thomas Muller for the clash, handing a re-call to Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil while Jerome Boateng was suspended for the clash.
The Germans dominated possession as expected, but even with all the attacking talent on the pitch, they struggled to carve out chances in the opening 20 minutes.
Manuel Neuer has looked shaky in the campaign thus far, and he nearly gifted Korea the lead after spilling Jung’s free-kick, which he eventually cleared at the second time of asking.
The defending champions continued to dominate as the half went on but the likes of Ozil and Marco Reus were finding it tough to break down the Korean defence.
The Germans came out firing in the second half, although Leon Gortezka and Timo Werner failed to convert their respective opportunities in the box.
The Koreans, meanwhile, looked more threatening after the hour mark, although they squandered a big chance in the 67th minute as Moon failed to get a shot away from 12 yards and was ultimately robbed of the ball.
With the Germans struggling to carve out chances, Low threw on Julian Brandt in the 77th minute, with Jonas Hector making way for the winger.
Mats Hummels squandered a glorious chance to break the deadlock on 87 minutes, with the defender heading over the crossbar from six-yards out.
The Germans threw numbers forward in search of an equaliser in the closing stages but Korea managed to snatch the opener in the third minute of stoppage time, with Kim Young-Gwon’s strike initially being ruled out for off-side, before the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) overturned the decision.
South Korea managed to seal the win in the sixth minute of time added on, with Son Heung-min slotting into an empty net after Neuer was caught out at the other end of the field.
Germany have now failed to qualify for the knockout stages, while Korea are also out.
Credit: Soccerladuma
