After the surprise defeat of Germany, eliminated by South Korea, from World Cup 2018, Brazil did the job against Serbia and Switzerland was scared against Costa Rica.
Brazil is in the round of 16 . Logic. Germany, reigning World Champion, surprise 2-0 by South Korea, leaves the World Cup 2018 in the first round. Foolish. The shock wave spread far beyond the sporting world.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokeswoman Wednesday expressed the sadness of an entire country. “It’s not our World Cup – it’s sad! Responded Steffen Seibert in a tweet shortly after the final whistle.
“And in the end the Germans do not win anymore”
Gary Lineker, then international English, had launched in the 1990s a formula passed to posterity: “Football is a game where 22 guys run after a ball, and in the end it is Germany that wins.” Became a star consultant, he tweeted Wednesday: “22 guys run after the ball and in the end the Germans do not win anymore.”
The Mannschaft had never left the World Cup before the quarter-finals since returning to the World Cup in 1954!
The German online media pointed out “a historic shame”. “Our nightmare of the World Cup has become reality,” exclaims the popular newspaper Bild. And besides “we are last of the group”.
last
Because, yes, the reading of the final classification of the group F leaves stammers: the Mannschaft of Manuel Neuer is last! Sweden, 1st, and Mexico, 2nd, qualify for the Round of 16, while the South Koreans, 3rd, also leave the tournament, but in front of the fallen champions.
Group E ended without thunder: Brazil eliminated Serbia (2-0, with goals from Paulinho and Thiago Silva), finished first, and will meet Mexico on Monday in Samara.
Will Löw stay?
For the Nordiques, it’s a very beautiful story. They had knocked out Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon in November. And that without the help of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had retired internationally in the summer of 2016. As for Switzerland, she was scared against Costa Rica (2-2), finished 2nd, and will cross the Sweden Tuesday in St. Petersburg.
Germany dreamed so much of being part of these posters. Joachim Löw, German coach, whose contract was extended just before the World Cup until 2022, can he remain in office after such an earthquake? When questioned by the ZDF, he stated that it was “too early” to reply. “It takes a few hours to see clearly, the disappointment is very deep in me (…) we will have to lead discussions tomorrow (Thursday), we will see how it continues,” he said.
The hour of the accounts will ring with the return to the country Thursday; scheduled landing early afternoon in Frankfurt.
This World Cup in Russia will remain like that of the last decisive minutes: the defeat of the men of Löw was drawn on a goal granted after recourse to video assistance to arbitration (VAR) to Kim Young-gwon (90 + 2) , before Son Heung-min extinguishes the suspense against (90 + 6).
In the other match of the group F, Sweden validated their qualification with a good victory 3 to 0 against Mexico. But the fall of the German champion by rebound to the “Tri” to reach the 8th finals. What a story !
No revenge Germany-Brazil
This is one of the images of this crazy day. The Mexican “Chicharito” Hernandez had just taken three goals, but nervously paced the pitch in Yekaterinburg after the final whistle while waiting for confirmation of the incredible news coming from Kazan, 1000 km away. Once the German disaster officialized, he could savor the qualification with his fans to sombreros in the tribunes.
The long-awaited eighth final between Germany and Brazil, for the revenge of the famous 7-1 in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup, will not take place.
It does not matter for solid Brazilians who really started their World Cup against Serbia (2-0). Neymar did not score, but he was decisive passer. Just like Coutinho, decidedly very fit in this tournament.
Marcelo, worry
That’s enough to reassure Titus who had seen his crack “Ney” finish in tears the previous match: “Our performance was regular, linear, it gives consistency and confidence,” he said, relieved.
But there is bad news: Marcelo, key element of the defense auriverde, came out early in the game, victim of a “muscle spasm back” according to his coach, unable after the match to say much more …
Thursday, two matches will attract attention: England-Belgium, summit of the group G between two qualified teams who think maybe more to the next turn. And a Senegal-Colombia far more stressful in Pool F, because there are still qualifications to go for.
