THE STORY
In June 2018, defending champions Germany were eliminated from the FIFA World Cup at the group stage after a 2-0 defeat to South Korea. The match, held at the Kazan Arena, saw Germany concede two stoppage-time goals, finishing bottom of Group F with three points. This marked the first time since 1938 that Germany failed to advance beyond the group stage. (itv.com)
TEAMS / PEOPLE:
Germany
WHY IT MATTERS
Germany's unexpected early exit highlighted the challenges faced by defending champions and underscored the unpredictability of the World Cup tournament.