Newspapers in Germany react to the ’embarrassment’ of the national team World Cup group-stage exit – The side’s second in as many world championships.
Germany are four-time World Cup winners, but have suffered back-to-back first round exits since their most recent victory in 2014.
After leading the team to the trophy in 2014, coach Joachim Loh oversaw their group-stage elimination in Russia, where his team finished bottom of their group after losses to Mexico and South Korea – either side of a win over Sweden. And Low’s successor, Hansi Flick, saw the same fate for his team in Qatar on Thursday (1 November), as Their 4–2 win against Costa Rica proved not enough to send them through to the last 16.,
After opening their account in Qatar with a 2–1 defeat to Japan, Germany bounced back to draw 1–1 with Spain, who had thrashed Costa Rica 7–0 in their tournament opener. But the day of the final Group E match Japan beat Spain 2-1 to top the poolBecause the Germans finished in third place – behind the Spanish on goal difference.
“How embarrassing! Were out!” read a headline by a german tabloid Bild Thursday night.
Meanwhile, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung wrote: “Four years after the historic first round exit, German football is back on the bottom rung.”
south german newspaper Wrote, “Finished! out! Again!”, during the tabloid hives jump Reported: “German defeat is sealed.”
football magazine riotersMeanwhile, noted, “Only a 10–2 win would have helped. Germany again crashed out in the World Cup group stage,” citing the team’s insufficient goal difference.
Japan, who finished first in Group E, will play Group F runners-up Croatia in the last 16, four years after the Croats reached the final – where they lost to France.
Meanwhile, Luis Enrique’s side will take on Group F winners Morocco and Spain after finishing second in Group E.
Belgium pulled out a 0-0 draw with Croatia on Thursday and pulled out of their own shock In the group stage, they finished third in Russia four years earlier.