World Cup stats make grim reading for eliminated Germany
Germany saw the defence of its World Cup title come to an early end on Wednesday - and the stats do not make good reading.
Published : Jun 28, 2018 00:16 IST
It was a day to forget for defending champion Germany as it was unceremoniously dumped out of the World Cup following defeat to South Korea.
Joachim Low's side was beaten 2-0 in Kazan on Wednesday, leaving it bottom of Group F with three points from three matches.
While Sweden and Mexico celebrated progression to the knockout stages, and Korea revelled in a memorable victory, Germany was left downbeat.
The post-match data made for miserable reading for fans on Die Mannschaft, here we take a look at the Opta facts that Low will be keen to avoid.
- Germany is the fourth defending champion to be eliminated from the group stage at the World Cup in the last five tournaments (also France 2002, Italy 2010, Spain 2014).
- This is only the second time that Germany has been eliminated from the first round at the World Cup having last done so in 1938 – however, this is the first time it has happened when the first round has been in a group stage format.
- Germany's tally of two goals scored at this World Cup is the second fewest managed by a defending champion in the competition, only ahead of France's zero in 2002.
- This was Germany's first defeat against an Asian nation in a World Cup match in what was its sixth such match.
- Germany has failed to score in two of its three World Cup games in 2018, as many as its previous 15 World Cup matches combined.
- This was South Korea's first clean sheet at the World Cup since a 2-0 win over Greece in 2010; it had gone eight without a shutout before this match.
- South Korea beat Germany in a World Cup match for the first time, having lost each of the previous two meetings in the competition.
- Son Heung-min's goal for South Korea (95:52) was the latest goal Germany has ever conceded in a World Cup match (excluding extra-time).
- Since the 2010 edition, Germany has lost both of its World Cup matches in which Thomas Muller has not started (also lost 0-1 to Spain in the 2010 semifinal), compared to 80 per cent when he has started (12 wins in 15 games).