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