AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Germany didn’t control its own destiny heading into the final round of games in Group E play at the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Thursday, and it cost the four-time champions.
While the Germans upheld their end of the bargain, beating Costa Rica 4-2, Japan’s stunning 2-1 victory over Spain in the group’s other game meant the Samurai Blue clinched the top spot in the group with six points and the Spaniards moved on because of superior goal differential over Germany.
FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer
THERE’S THE OPENING GOAL FOR GERMANY 🇩🇪
Gnabry wastes no time to put Germany on top early pic.twitter.com/xR4FIfS6rV
FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer
GERMANY TAKES THE LEAD
The madness of Group E continues 🤯 pic.twitter.com/y1J5nGQ1u2
FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer
After a VAR check the goal is confirmed and Germany has FOUR 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/r0P0zeXh1R
Coming to Qatar, nobody would have predicted Germany failing to make the group stage for a second straight tournament, let alone Japan beating both them and Spain, another perennial power, to top the group.
FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer
Germany is speechless. pic.twitter.com/TVP7FE4I6q
That unpredictability is what makes the World Cup so special. The polarity between the elation and agony is what makes it such a compelling watch, and football Twitter was stunned that the Germans once again found themselves on the anguish end of the spectrum:
B/R Football @brfootball
Germany exit the World Cup at the group stage for the second tournament running 😬 pic.twitter.com/D4WsYBpUAf
Paul Carr @PaulCarr
🇩🇪 Germany is OUT in the group stage for the second straight World Cup.
🇩🇪 Before 2018, Germany had reached at least the quarterfinals in 16 straight World Cups and NEVER been eliminated in the group stage.
herculez gomez @herculezg
Japan!! 🇯🇵
First place in their group. Germany eliminated. #JPN
Madness. This #FIFAWorldCup is insane. . . And I’m here for it.
Stefan Bienkowski @SBienkowski
Germany are out of the World Cup and not a soul can convince me that it was anyone’s fault but their own. Hansi Flick picked a squad full of holes, compromises and entirely lacking in quality. They simply weren’t good enough.
James Tyler @JamesTylerESPN
back to back group stage eliminations for Germany at the World Cup. If only there was a word to describe my joy at that factoid…
Tancredi Palmeri @tancredipalmeri
Italy and Germany not at World Cup knock-out stages for 2 editions in a row.
Football times, those are changing #FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022
Jan Aage Fjørtoft 🏳️🌈 🇳🇴 💛💙 @JanAageFjortoft
Germany OUT!!!!!!
Unfortunately deserved….Japan beating Germany AND Spain !!!!
Leanne Prescott @_lfcleanne
Fair play to Japan. So well organised, fighting for each other and deservedly through. Germany only have themselves to blame.
Ryan O’Hanlon @rwohan
As of now, Germany have the best xG differential at the World Cup.
Also: Germany have been eliminated from the World Cup.
Phil McNulty @philmcnulty
Germany have now gone out in the group stage in two successive World Cups. A fallen power.
Usher Komugisha @UsherKomugisha
Germany 🇩🇪 has no business at this World Cup whatever way you want to look at it. They don’t have the 2014 spark anymore. Drawing board it is.
Germany will need to take a long, hard look in the proverbial mirror after going from a 2014 World Cup title to consecutive group-stage failures. This wasn’t any easy group, but it’s still one a traditional powerhouse like the Germans would be expected to navigate.
Granted, they aren’t alone in their failure to advance. Earlier Thursday, it was Belgium that didn’t escape Group F, a huge surprise given the talent on that roster. And it was a surprise group winner, Morocco, that earned the hearts of neutral observers around the world, at least until Japan shook things up later in the day.
Nothing is guaranteed at the World Cup. For the second straight tournament, Germany learned that lesson the hard way.
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