15 Of The Best Stats, Memes And Reactions To Germany's Exit

The World Cup delivered one of its biggest shocks yet last night as Germany crashed out of the competition by finishing third in Group E.

It is now the second consecutive time that Germany have been knocked out at the first hurdle. In 2018 they finished bottom of their group and had a miserable campaign.

Germany knew that they needed to get the job done against Costa Rica, but they were also reliant on other results going their way on the night.

While they managed to get the job done in the end against Costa Rica, Japan pulled off another shock by beating Spain and so managed to top the group in the process.

Despite finishing level on points with Spain, Hansi Flick’s side had a far inferior goal difference. The World Cup has delivered plenty of upsets so far, but this might be the biggest yet.

Flick admitted they made mistakes: “I don’t care about other teams because it is all up to us,” He admitted after the game. “If you look at the matches and the number of goals, it is our fault.

“I am convinced we had possibilities and chances in the (last) match against Spain to win, but you have to take those chances and score and then it would have been a different situation for us.

“There are so many reasons (for Germany’s exit), but I am not looking to find excuses. We did not have a lot of time to train, but it is not down to that. We fulfilled our duty today and went off the pitch with a victory, but the result could have been better.

“Honestly, we have just been eliminated, but if you know me and know my team, you know that we can get up quickly and recover from that. That is very important and very decisive for the future.

“In light of the 2024 European Championship, it is difficult to talk about that right after elimination. Now we need to assess our work here at the World Cup, head into a different direction, and this is the next step that we are going to undertake and we will do that very soon.”

We’ve gone through social media and picked out 15 of the funniest memes, reactions, stats and more.

Alan Shearer

Germany are out of the #FIFAWorldCup in the group stage!! pic.twitter.com/h3bFEYn1Pw
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) December 1, 2022

Thursday evening madness

the world during those 3 minutes where both spain and germany were out pic.twitter.com/deMPPFbZ21
— V (@mvrctz) December 1, 2022

Frank Lampard

“That’s what Germany deserve after my goal didn’t count back in 2010 haha but no seriously, safe flight back lads.” pic.twitter.com/BTj6sybX4B
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) December 1, 2022

Neil Warnock

What goes around comes around 🤣 #Germany #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/7IXRPmgwsR
— Neil Warnock (@warnockofficial) December 1, 2022

Japan

2 – Since detailed World Cup records began (1966), there are only two instances of a team losing a game despite attempting 700+ passes:
Spain vs Japan tonight
Germany vs Japan last week
Formula. pic.twitter.com/nvsTSNqyI0
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 1, 2022

xG

Most xG in the group stage —
Germany: 10.0
France: 7.4
Argentina: 6.3
England: 5.3
Spain: 5.3
Yet Germany are out 🙃😬
— Ollie Hopkins (@oliver_hopkins) December 1, 2022

Kai Havertz

Kai Havertz man … if looks could kill.
Dying 😭😭🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/r31PtzUKR0
— Antonio Mango (@AntonioMango4) December 1, 2022

Group of Death?

Japan when they got drawn into Spain and Germany’s group: pic.twitter.com/KE2vMEhhyw
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) December 1, 2022

Upset

No one on earth predicted Japan topping a group with Germany and Spain and Morocco topping a group with Belgium and Croatia, this World Cup is one for the history books man
— Trey (@UTDTrey) December 1, 2022

Unpredictable

Japan beating Germany and Spain but losing to Costa Rica is absolutely mental.
— Alfie | HITC Sevens (@HITCSevens) December 1, 2022

Ball over the line?

The angle you see things from can massively distort whether any part of the ball is overhanging any part of the line. Officials get one look at it (and were right!)
Ball in the same place in all 3 photos, as in #Japan vs. #Spain game this evening #FIFAWorldCup #JPNESP #JPN #ESP pic.twitter.com/Sneis6TGr5
— Christopher James (@ChrisJames_90) December 1, 2022