XtraTime Web Desk: “Catastrophic”, “Disgraceful”, “Horrific”, “Shameful”, are few of the words cursed by the German tabloids on the four-time champions’ performance in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. They managed get only 3 points from their 3 matches, losing to Mexico and South Korea and snatching a late 3 points against Sweden. It was Germany’s worst ever performance at the grandest stage since the 1938 edition where they also bowed out in the first round. The players were clueless and didn’t act according to their plans. They had a total of 72 shots over 3 matches and managed to get only 2 into the back of the net. A 3 percent success rate, something which is very rare from a team of Germany’s calibre.
The German media wasted no time in bashing their team’s performance. Here are what some of the tabloids had to say:-
Kicker’s online headline read ‘Historic elimination! The German champions are out’, while the television channel ARD described it as a ‘historic disaster’ and Der Spiegel called it a ‘historic disgrace’.
Der Spiegel continued: “For the first time in the history of the World Cup, Germany’s national team have failed in the first round.”
Suddeutsche Zeitung said it was a ‘collapse’ and for Bild its headline exclaimed ‘Out, our nightmare World Cup has become a reality’.
But the best headline was made by Bild. Back on July 9, 2014, the German media outlet wildly celebrated the historic truimph of their team against Brazil in the semifinals of the World Cup.
After the elimination of their team at the hands of South Korea in Russia, the same headlines were used.
Speechless! was how the cover of Bild, with a photo of Toni Kroos on the front just as he had been four years ago, described the humiliation.