On Wednesday, South Korea shut out the defending World Cup champs, sending Germany home with a stunning upset victory, 2-0.
What an upset!
South Korea beat Germany to keep the defending champions out of the Round of 16! pic.twitter.com/EWbpBrfSyV
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 27, 2018
This continues a recent trend that has seen defending champions fall by the wayside early, as the past three, and four of the past five, have been eliminated in the group stage.
Four of the last five defending #WorldCup champions have been knocked out at the group stage.
2002 France 🇫🇷
2010 Italy 🇮🇹
2014 Spain 🇪🇸
2018 Germany 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/B1nD5mmeEb— Indy Football (@IndyFootball) June 27, 2018
Not surprisingly, this created quite a wave of reactions on social media.
https://twitter.com/HPNthetruth/status/1012005882593468418
Germany tears at a major tournament are as rare as a unicorn's earwax#GER #WorldCuppic.twitter.com/HzJqTWTAtH
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) June 27, 2018
Nigeria yesterday, Germany today.
Big teams are going out. pic.twitter.com/Xch3VcbjJH
— Oreoluwa Shonibare (@Amb_Ore) June 27, 2018
Mood All day today! South Korea 🇰🇷 pic.twitter.com/E6wZiEnriv
— ❤️ (@OMG_Edgarr10) June 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/miawilliams1982/status/1012004863008563200
https://twitter.com/DonHaci/status/1012003324109959169
https://twitter.com/jchaltiwanger/status/1012004450108628992
Cho Hyun-Woo is a true star!
Well-deserved victory for South Korea.Can't believe this is how it ends for #GER
No, I'm not crying. You're crying.#KORGER #worldcup pic.twitter.com/RzAGRaDJrF
— Dinasaurus Rex (@chrysalis11) June 27, 2018
Thanks South Korea you did amazing sweetie #MEXSWE #WorldCup #Germany pic.twitter.com/3fVpEvinWq
— Ara • 🇵🇸 (@hobifairie) June 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/SonnyStewart17/status/1012004828812382208
https://twitter.com/SamehadaXO/status/1012004798634196992
https://twitter.com/GeorginaRibena_/status/1012004796251791360
https://twitter.com/Diggz707/status/1012004784541335554