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Where's Neuer gone? South Korea score second as keeper goes AWOL
Defending champions Germany suffered a shock elimination from the World Cup after losing to South Korea in Kazan.
The four-time winners crashed out in ignominious fashion - conceding twice in injury time as they pressed for the goal which would have sent them through.
In an astonishing and enthralling end to the match, Kim Young-gwon's 92nd-minute goal - which was initially ruled out for offside before being awarded after a video assistant referee decision - left Germany on the brink of elimination.
Worse was to come for the world's number one ranked side, however, when deep into stoppage time and appearing increasingly desperate, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer lost possession in the opponents' half.
Ju Se-jong launched it forward where Son Heung-min tapped into an empty net to score the second.
That prompted jubilant celebrations from the South Koreans, while some Germany fans inside the shocked stadium were left in tears.
It is the first time since 1938 a West Germany or the unified Germany team have not advanced beyond the first section of the tournament as Joachim Low's side finished bottom of Group F.
Sweden topped the group with Mexico second and South Korea third.
- Relive South Korea v Germany as it happened
Where did it go wrong for Germany?
Manager Low, who took Germany to World Cup glory in Brazil four years ago, will face strong questions over his selections both for this match and this squad.
He left out Manchester City forward Leroy Sane out of his squad, despite the 22-year-old playing a major role in helping City win the Premier League title, while Mario Gotze, who scored the winner in the 2014 final against Argentina, also missed out.
Against South Korea, Low made five changes, including recalling Arsenal's Mesut Ozil and dropping Thomas Muller, although the Gunners' midfielder did not justify his selection with a poor performance that repeatedly saw him give the ball away.
However, Germany had been poor throughout the tournament, losing 1-0 to Mexico in their first match and needing a last-minute Toni Kroos goal to beat Sweden 2-1.
Low has been in charge of Germany since 2006, taking them to the final of the 2008 European Championships when they lost to Spain and then to become world champions in 2014 as they thrashed hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final before beating Argentina 1-0 in the final.
However, questions will remain over Low's future as well as the international careers of some of their key players.
Neuer is 32, Sami Khedira, 31 with both Ozil and Marco Reus 29 and this may have been the final matches at a World Cup finals in their illustrious careers.
Wasteful Germany's missed chances cost them
With Sweden winning 3-0 against Mexico in the other Group F game, and it being goalless in Kazan, Germany knew they had to score in a frantic finish.
A win for Germany would have edged Mexico out on goal difference - but the drama came at the other end as Kim put the ball into the net, although it was initially ruled out for offside.
However, the VAR review showed the ball had deflected into Kim's path off of a German player - Toni Kroos - and the goal was given.
With Germany desperately looking for a goal to get back in the match, Neuer joined the attack.
But he was caught out as a long ball left Tottenham forward Son with the simple task of walking the ball into the net to spark jubilant celebrations among the Asian side, even though their elimination had already been confirmed.
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's one touch in the opposing half came just before he was dispossessed for South Korea's second goal
The Germans will regret their wastefulness in front of goal when the game was goalless.
South Korea's goalkeeper Cho Hyeon-woo made a fine one-handed save from Leon Goretzka's header and Timo Werner volleyed wide from near the penalty shot.
Mats Hummels headed over the top when unmarked six yards out in the closing stages, before South Korea's two late goals.
It means Germany's hopes of becoming the first team to retain the World Cup since Brazil's victories in 1958 and 1962 ended in embarrassing fashion.
South Korea out, but still celebrate a memorable win
South Korea went into the match with no points from their opening two games after losing 1-0 to Sweden and 2-1 to Mexico.
However, they had a mathematical chance of qualifying for the last 16 for only the third time in 10 competition appearances, although they needed Mexico to beat Sweden.
South Korea had the first chance when Jung Woo-young's free-kick was fumbled by Neuer, who punched clear bravely as Son tried to convert the rebound.
The Tottenham forward also lashed a volley wide when it was goalless, before being booked in the second half as referee Mark Geiger thought he had dived in an attempt to win a penalty.
Even though the score in Ekaterinburg ended South Korea's hopes of going through, they still sensed a memorable win over Germany.
The team ranked 57th in the world achieved that victory thanks to the two late goals, both of which were celebrated as if they had qualified themselves.
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VAR goal knocks Germany out of World Cup'This will fall on Joachim Low' - analysis
Football journalist Archie Rhind-Tutt on BBC Radio 5 live
This will fall on Joachim Low for the way he organised the team," said Rhind-Tutt. "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."
Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton on 5 live
I did not see it coming. I thought Germany would've brought the momentum from the Sweden game into today, but they started so slowly without any intensity.
Why was Manuel Neuer ahead of two forwards for the second goal? He is a loose cannon. What was he doing playing on the left wing? He is a goalkeeper, why is he in that position? It was an open goal for Son and the Germans have got what they deserve.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
South Korea
23Cho Hyun-Woo
2Lee Yong
5Yun Young-Sun
19Kim Young-Gwon
14Hong Chul
17Lee Jae-SungBooked at 23mins
20Jang Hyun-Soo
15Jung Woo-YoungBooked at 9mins
18Moon Seon-MinBooked at 48minsSubstituted forJu Se-Jongat 69'minutes
7Son Heung-MinBooked at 65mins
13Koo Ja-CheolSubstituted forHwang Hee-Chanat 56'minutesSubstituted forKo Yo-Hanat 79'minutes
Substitutes
1Kim Seung-gyu
3Jung Seung-Hyun
4Oh Ban-Suk
6Park Joo-Ho
8Ju Se-Jong
9Kim Shin-Wook
10Lee Seung-Woo
11Hwang Hee-Chan
12Kim Min-Woo
16Ki Sung-yueng
21Kim Jin-hyeon
22Ko Yo-Han
Germany
1Neuer
18Kimmich
15Süle
5Hummels
3HectorSubstituted forBrandtat 78'minutes
6KhediraSubstituted forGomezat 58'minutes
8Kroos
14GoretzkaSubstituted forMüllerat 63'minutes
10Özil
11Reus
9Werner
Substitutes
2Plattenhardt
4Ginter
7Draxler
12Trapp
13Müller
16Rüdiger
19Rudy
20Brandt
21Gündogan
22ter Stegen
23Gomez
Referee:
Mark Geiger
Attendance:
41,835
Match Stats
Home TeamSouth KoreaAway TeamGermany
Possession
Home26%
Away74%
Shots
Home12
Away28
Shots on Target
Home5
Away6
Corners
Home3
Away9
Fouls
Home16
Away7
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Korea Republic 2, Germany 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+10'
Second Half ends, Korea Republic 2, Germany 0.
Posted at 90'+9'
Mats Hummels (Germany) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Thomas Müller following a corner.
Posted at 90'+9'
Corner, Germany. Conceded by Jang Hyun-Soo.
Posted at 90'+9'
Attempt blocked. Mats Hummels (Germany) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Posted at 90'+8'
Attempt saved. Julian Brandt (Germany) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Toni Kroos.
Posted at 90'+8'
Attempt blocked. Thomas Müller (Germany) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mario Gomez.
Goal!Posted at 90'+6'
Goal! Korea Republic 2, Germany 0. Son Heung-Min (Korea Republic) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ju Se-Jong following a fast break.
Posted at 90'+6'
Toni Kroos (Germany) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+6'
Foul by Ju Se-Jong (Korea Republic).
Posted at 90'+5'
Attempt missed. Mats Hummels (Germany) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Thomas Müller with a headed pass.
Posted at 90'+3'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 90'+3'
Video Review: Goal. Referee decision on field cancelled.
Posted at 90'+2'
Delay in match (Germany). Video Review.
Goal!Posted at 90'+2'
Goal! Korea Republic 1, Germany 0. Kim Young-Gwon (Korea Republic) left footed shot from very close range to the top right corner following a corner.
Posted at 90'+1'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 90'
Delay in match Lee Yong (Korea Republic) because of an injury.
Posted at 90'
Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Niklas Süle.
Posted at 90'
Attempt blocked. Lee Jae-Sung (Korea Republic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lee Yong.
Posted at 89'
Attempt saved. Jung Woo-Young (Korea Republic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ko Yo-Han.
Posted at 88'
Attempt saved. Toni Kroos (Germany) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Posted at 87'
Joshua Kimmich (Germany) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 87'
Foul by Son Heung-Min (Korea Republic).
Posted at 87'
Attempt missed. Mats Hummels (Germany) with an attempt from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross.
Posted at 86'
Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Niklas Süle.
Posted at 84'
Attempt missed. Toni Kroos (Germany) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Mesut Özil.
Posted at 84'
Attempt blocked. Julian Brandt (Germany) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Thomas Müller.
Posted at 84'
Joshua Kimmich (Germany) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Ko Yo-Han (Korea Republic).
Posted at 83'
Attempt missed. Marco Reus (Germany) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Mesut Özil.
Posted at 82'
Attempt missed. Thomas Müller (Germany) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Joshua Kimmich with a cross.
Posted at 80'
Offside, Germany. Mario Gomez tries a through ball, but Marco Reus is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 79'
Substitution, Korea Republic. Ko Yo-Han replaces Hwang Hee-Chan.
Posted at 78'
Attempt missed. Son Heung-Min (Korea Republic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Lee Jae-Sung following a fast break.
SubstitutionPosted at 78'
Substitution, Germany. Julian Brandt replaces Jonas Hector.
Posted at 77'
Corner, Germany. Conceded by Jung Woo-Young.
Posted at 74'
Corner, Germany. Conceded by Kim Young-Gwon.
Posted at 70'
Foul by Thomas Müller (Germany).
Posted at 70'
Hong Chul (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 70'
Attempt missed. Toni Kroos (Germany) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Joshua Kimmich.
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goal
Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com