South Korean players celebrate their win over Germany. AFPKazan: Champions Germany were sent crashing out of the World Cup after suffering a stunning 2-0 defeat by a tenacious South Korea on Wednesday that saw them eliminated in the first round for the first time in 80 years.
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.
Stoppage-time goals from Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min finished off Joachim Loew's sorry Germany side, who finished bottom of the group on three points.
South Korea's players celebrate their goal against Germany at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on June 27, 2018. AFPThey have won four World Cup titles and also finished runners-up four times and entered this year's tournament heavily backed to retain their title. Instead they will head home after a stunning failure, having been unable to break down the South Koreans and after a shock 1-0 loss to Mexico in their opening group match.
Sweden won the group after thrashing the Mexicans 3-0.
Germany's Toni Kroos, the free-kick hero in the 2-1 win over Sweden, tried desperately to spark his side into action in the second half but was denied by South Korea's heroic Cho Hyun-woo in the 88th minute, one of a number of fine saves by the keeper.
But it was Kim Young-gwon who broke the deadlock in added time when he found himself alone in front of goal after a corner and he poked the ball home from close range.
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FIFA World Cup: Serbia vs Brazil
Brazil's Neymar celebrates their win in the World Cup Group E match between Serbia and Brazil at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Serbia vs Brazil
Brazil players celebrate their opening goal against Serbia at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Serbia vs Brazil
A Brazil fan and a Serbian supporter kiss before the World Cup Group E match between Serbia and Brazil at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Serbia vs Brazil
Serbia's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in action with Brazil's Casemiro and Gabriel Jesus. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Serbia vs Brazil
Brazil's midfielder Paulinho celebrates his goal against Serbia at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Serbia vs Brazil
Brazil's Neymar (2nd right) challenges Serbia's Milos Veljkovic (centre) and Nemanja Matic during the World Cup Group E match between Serbia and Brazil at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Switzerland's Blerim Dzemaili celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Switzerland's Blerim Dzemaili scores their first goal. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Costa Rica's Bryan Ruiz celebrates after taking a penalty that hit the crossbar and was scored by Switzerland's Yann Sommer with an own goal. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Costa Rica's Kendall Waston (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal against Switzerland at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Costa Rica's Kendall Waston heads the ball and scores his team's first goal against Switzerland at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Switzerland's Mario Gavranovic in action with Costa Rica's Kendall Waston. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Switzerland's Blerim Dzemaili (left) celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Costa Rica at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Costa Rica supporters cheer during the World Cup Group E match between Switzerland and Costa Rica at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Switzerland's goalkeeper Yann Sommer dives for the ball during the World Cup Group E match between Switzerland and Costa Rica at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
South Korea's players celebrate their goal against Germany at the Kazan Arena on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
South Korea's players celebrate their second goal against Germany at the Kazan Arena on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
South Korea's Kim Young-gwon scores their first goal past Germany's Manuel Neuer. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
South Korea's players celebrate their goal against Germany at the Kazan Arena on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
South Korea's Kim Young-gwon scores their first goal. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
Germany's Thomas Mueller (centre) and his teammates react at the end of the World Cup Group F match against South Korea at the Kazan Arena on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
Germany's Mats Hummels looks dejected. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
Germany coach Joachim Low checks his watch during the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
Germany's Mats Hummels (R) intercepts a pass during the World Cup Group F match between South Korea and Germany at the Kazan Arena on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer jumps to stop the ball as he vies for it with South Korea's Son Heung-min (left) during the World Cup Group F match at the Kazan Arena on June 27, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
Germany's Mesut Ozil in action with South Korea's Jung Woo-young. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
South Korea's Son Heung-min reacts while Germany's Sami Khedira looks on. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
Germany's Mats Hummels shoots at goal as South Korea's Jung Woo-young and Koo Ja-cheol challenge. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs Germany
South Korea's Son Heung-min shoots at goal. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Sweden vs Mexico
Sweden's Emil Forsberg and Ola Toivonen celebrate after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Sweden vs Mexico
Sweden players celebrate after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Sweden vs Mexico
Sweden players celebrate as Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa looks dejected after Edson Alvarez scored Sweden's third with an own goal. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Sweden vs Mexico
Mexico's Carlos Vela reacts after missing a chance to score. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Sweden vs Mexico
Sweden's goalkeeper Robin Olsen in action. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Sweden vs Mexico
Mexico's Hector Herrera in action with Sweden's Sebastian Larsson. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Sweden vs Mexico
Mexico's Hector Herrera in action with Sweden's Sebastian Larsson. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Sweden vs Mexico
Mexico's Edson Alvarez in action with Sweden's Emil Forsberg. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Sweden vs Mexico
Mexico's Hirving Lozano in action with Sweden's Mikael Lustig. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Sweden vs Mexico
Mexico's Jesus Gallardo (left) and Sweden's forward Ola Toivonen vie for the ball at the Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018. AFP
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Moments later Son sprinted to retrieve a long ball, with Germany keeper Neuer having left his goal to try to help his side get a goal, and the Korean striker fired a low shot into the net to wrap up the win and leave the Germans distraught.
