World Cup group F: Germany out as Sweden and Mexico progress

Defending champions Germany have crashed out of the 2018 World Cup at the group stage after losing 2-0 to Korea Republic.

Sweden’s 3-0 victory against Mexico means they top group F with the Mexicans taking second spot. Germany finish bottom of the group behind Korea who end in third.

Mexico went into the third round of games top of the table but three second-half goals by Sweden gave the European side the win and first place. Ludwig Augustinsson, Andreas Granqvist (penalty) and an Edson Alvarez own goal gave Sweden the win.

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With Mexico losing Germany could have progressed if they had won against Korea Republic. But the four-time winners’ hopes were crushed when Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min scored in injury-time. Young-gwon’s goal was awarded after a decision by the video-assistant referee (VAR).

The holders’ elimination means it’s the first since 1938 that a Germany or West Germany side has failed to progress past the group stage.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 live, journalist Archie Rhind-Tutt said: “This will fall on Joachim Low for the way he organised the team. There was no real balance to the side. The players will take a hammering but most of it will be for Low.

“I think they underestimated South Korea and it didn’t make sense to put [Sami] Khedira and [Mesut] Ozil back in. A terrible day for Germany.”

Group F results

• Germany 0 Mexico 1
• Sweden 1 Korea Republic 0
• Korea Republic 1 Mexico 2
• Germany 2 Sweden 1
• Korea Republic 2 Germany 0
• Mexico 0 Sweden 3

Group F team profiles

Germany

• Head coach: Joachim Low
• Fifa ranking: 1
• Number of World Cup appearances: 18
• Best finish: winners in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014
• Player to watch: Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)

Germany World Cup results

• Germany 0 Mexico 1
• Germany 2 Sweden 1
• Korea Republic 2 Germany 0

Germany 23-man squad

• Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris St-Germain)
• Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich)
• Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris St-Germain), Leon Goretska (Schalke), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich)
• Forwards: Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)

Mexico

• Head coach: Juan Carlos Osorio
• Fifa ranking: 15
• Number of World Cup appearances: 15
• Best finish: quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986
• Player to watch: Javier Hernandez (West Ham United)

Mexico World Cup results

• Germany 0 Mexico 1
• Korea Republic 1 Mexico 2
• Mexico 0 Sweden 3

Mexico 23-man squad

• Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Standard Liege), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul)
• Defenders: Carlos Salcedo (Eintracht Frankfurt), Diego Reyes (Porto), Hector Moreno (Real Sociedad), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Edson Alvarez (America), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), Miguel Layun (Sevilla)
• Midfielders: Rafael Marquez (Atlas), Hector Herrera (Porto), Jonathan Dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Giovani Dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Javier Aquino (Tigres), Jesus Corona (Porto)
• Forwards: Javier Hernandez (West Ham), Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Oribe Peralta (America), Carlos Vela (Los Angeles FC), Hirving Lozano (PSV Eindhoven), Marco Fabian (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Sweden

• Head coach: Janne Andersson
• Fifa ranking: 23
• Number of World Cup appearances: 19
• Best finish: Runners-up in 1958
• Player to watch: Marcus Berg (Al Ain)

Sweden World Cup results

• Sweden 1 Korea Republic 0
• Germany 2 Sweden 1
• Mexico 0 Sweden 3

Sweden 23-man squad

• Goalkeepers: Robin Olsen (Copenhagen), Karl-Johan Johnsson (Guingamp), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Swansea)
• Defenders: Mikael Lustig (Celtic), Victor Lindelof (Manchester United), Andreas Granqvist (Krasnador), Martin Olsson (Swansea), Ludwig Augustinsson (Werder Bremen), Filip Helander (Bologna), Emil Krafth (Bologna), Pontus Jansson (Leeds United)
• Midfielders: Sebastian Larsson (Hull), Albin Ekdal (Hamburg), Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig), Gustav Svensson (Seattle Sounders), Oscar Hiljemark (Genoa), Viktor Claesson (Krasnador), Marcus Rohden (Crotone), Jimmy Durmaz (Toulouse)
• Forwards: Marcus Berg (Al Ain), John Guidetti (Alaves), Ola Toivonen (Toulouse), Isaac Kiese Thelin (Waasland-Beveren)

Korea Republic

• Head coach: Shin Tae-yong
• Fifa ranking: 61
• Number of World Cup appearances: nine
• Best finish: fourth place in 2002
• Player to watch: Ki Sung-Yeung

Korea Republic World Cup results

• Sweden 1 Korea Republic 0
• Korea Republic 1 Mexico 2
• Korea Republic 2 Germany 2

Korea Republic 23-man squad

• Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-gyu (Vissel Kobe), Kim Jin-hyeon (Cerezo Osaka), Cho Hyun-woo (Daegu FC)
• Defenders: Kim young-gwon (Guangzhou Evergrande), Jang Hyun-soo (FC Tokyo), Jung Seung-hyun (Sagan Tosu), Yun Yong-sun (Seongnam FC), Oh Ban-suk (Jeju United), Kim Min-woo (Sangju Sangmu), Park Joo-ho (Ulsan Hyundai), Hong Chul (Sangju Sangmu), Go Yo-han (FC Seoul), Lee Yong (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
• Midfielders: Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea), Jung Woo-young (Vissel Kobe), Ju Se-jong (Asan Mugunghwa), Koo Ja-cheol (Augsburg), Lee Jae-sung (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Lee Seung-woo (Hellas Verona), Moon Seon-min (Incheon United)
• Forwards: Kim Shin-wook (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Hwang Hee-chan (Red Bull Salzburg)