FIFA World Cup: The champions curse continues
Germany became the fourth European World Cup winners to get knocked out in the group stage.
(WebDesk) - Who would have thought that defending champions and one of the strongest contenders to lift the World Cup once again would have been knocked out in the group stage of this year’s competition and that too by Korea? Not many that is for sure.
When Sweden were busy thumping Mexico by netting three clinical goals, the once mighty Germans were trying their best to oust the Koreans but that wasn’t to be as two injury time strikes from Kim Young-Gwon and Son Heung-Min sent the defending champions packing.
South Korea thumped Germany 2-0 to send them packing. Photo: File
From the naked eye, it seems as though the result was a huge shock but according to the tournament’s history, the exit was pretty much on the cards.
The loss saw Germany become the fourth European World Cup winner in a row to see their defence fall at the very first stage.
Here’s a look at how the curse has managed to maintain itself throughout the years:
France – Champions of ’98 face shock exit in ’02 edition
After defeating Brazil 3-0 in a memorable final in Paris to claim the FIFA World Cup, France went on to lift the European Championships two years later in 2000 as well. When the squad flew to Japan and South Korea to defend the World Cup, the fans had high expectations. Fate, however, had other plans for the Les Bleus.
First, an inspired Senegal shocked the champions with a 1-0 win in Seoul before a frustrating 0-0 stalemate with Uruguay piled on the pressure for France. Finally, a 2-0 defeat to Denmark ensured that the champions flew back home finishing rock bottom without even netting a single goal.
Denmark completed the french humiliation when they beat the champions 2-0. Photo: FIFA
Marcel Desailly, captain 2002: ‘I feel terrible. It does not happen that the World Champions go out in the first round. It is not the end for this team, however, because the quality is there. We still have the best players’
Italy – Champions of ‘06 kicked out from the group stages in ’10 World Cup
The Italian national team kept its cool in the final of the 2006 World Cup in Germany when they overcame the mighty Italians in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. In the very next edition, however, the players embarrassed the entire nation with worst possible performance after they finished bottom of the table that contained the likes of Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand.
Even though fans expected an easy pass to the knockout rounds, their team could only manage two 1-1 draws with Paraguay and New Zealand and a shocking 3-2 defeat to then first timers, Slovakia.
Slovakia managed to scrape past Italy to register a famous win and knock out the holders. Photo: FIFA
Marcello Lippi, manager 2010: ‘I take full responsibility. If a team shows up at an important game with terror in its heart and head and legs, it must mean the coach did not train them as he should have done.’
Spain – Champions in Africa stun world with group stage exit in Brazil
The near perfect Spanish team led almost entirely by players from F.C Barcelona and Real Madrid, continued their European dominance when Andres Iniesta netted past Steklenburg in the 116th minute to claim the World Cup in Africa.
The La Roja won European Championships either side of their maiden World Cup triumph - but the empire came crashing down just years later in Brazil. Even the 3-0 win over Australia in the last match of the group stage could not prevent the champions from getting knocked out as their 5-1 humiliation by the Dutch coupled with the 2-0 humbling by Chile proved to be too much.
Spain s defeat to Chile all but confirmed their exit. Photo: Telegraph
Xabi Alonso, veteran midfielder: ‘Mentally, we weren’t ready; physically maybe the same is true. In addition, putting that all together we were not in the best shape. We have not been able to maintain the same levels of conviction, of hunger. The success, the happiness of before is gone. We have made many mistakes.’
Germany – Early exit in Russia for 2014 world champions
An extra-time goal from substitute Mario Gotze set the stadium alight as Germany eventually triumphed a Messi-led Argentina to claim the FIFA World Cup for the fourth time. The Germans continued their dominance thereafter and entered this year’s competition in Russia as the front-runners to lift the cup again. Results, however, suggested otherwise.
Dismal performances against Mexico and South Korea ensured that the 2-1 win against Sweden was not enough to secure a position in the more interesting stages of the competition. Never before have they been knocked out of a first-round group stage.
Lackluster Germany disappointed their fans with a shock exit yesterday. Photo: File
Joachim Low, manager: ‘All of German football has lost not just a match, but everything we have built in the last few years. We say sorry.’
By: Raacikh Asghar
