VAR helps send dire Germany home

Another appalling performance from Germany allied to a fine one from South Korea means that, for the first time in their history, the holders are going home after the first round of games! Group E is topped by Sweden thanks to their 3-0 win over Mexico, who also qualify in second place.

It took, perhaps, 15 minutes for Germany to dispel the notion that their late win over Sweden had given them confidence and momentum. Jogi Low made five changes, and again his players were slow, slovenly and devoid of all imagination. At no point in the first half did they look like scoring, though this was due in part of South Korea, who were disciplined, strong, and lively on the counter.

Germany improved slightly after half-time, Timo Werner slashing wide and Mats Hummels heading into his shoulder. But there was no onslaught, and then, in the first minute of injury-time, Kim Young-gwon picked up a loose ball following a corner and poked into the roof of the net. In the first instance, the goal was disallowed, but VAR showed that a touch from Toni Kroos had played him onside, and the original decision was overturned.

In a bid to score the two goals that his team needed, Manuel Neuer decided to play in midfield, but when he was dispossessed on halfway, Heung-min Son was on hand to roll in the clincher. Germany are going home, and rightly so; they may find that there are one or two questions to answer when they get there.

What was Germany's plan? The constant changing of the team, and the total lack of guile and fire regardless of who played says very little about how they were prepared by Jogi Low. To coax such poor performances out of such good players is quite some achievement, and the likelihood is that he can now look forward to sniffing his fingers in the privacy of his own home.

Heung-min Son (South Korea): Pretty much every South Korea player delivered a 7/10 performance, but it was Son's pace and movement that facilitated them. He gave them an out ball, took pressure off the defence and elevated those around him, as well as scoring the second goal.

South Korea: Hyeon-woo 7, Lee Yong 7, Youn-sun Yun 7, Young-gwon Kim 8, Chul Hong 6, Jaesung Lee 7, Hyun-soo Jang 7, Wooyoung Jung 7, Seon-min Moon 6, Heung-min Son 8, Jacheol Koo 6. Subs: Hwang-hee 5, Ju Sejong 6, Yohan Go 6.

Germany: Neuer 5, Kimmich 5, Sule 6, Hummels 5, Hector 5, Goretzka 4, Kroos 5, Khedira 4, Ozil 5, Reus 5, Werner 4. Subs: Gomez 5, Muller 5, Brandt 6.

19’ - ...Wooyoung takes it himself, whipping past the side of the wall, and Neuer drops it! But he reacts well to flip away before Son can arrive and the resultant corner comes to nothing. That's a decent save in the end.

78’ - And here come Korea, Son easing towards the German box off the left, coming inside, and shooting! It looks dangerous! It is dangerous! But it's just wide.

79’ - Kimmich curls in a cross, and everyone misses it ... but Woo has to stop it with his knees! Then Chan, who only recently came on, is replaced by Go.

87’ - AND THERE'S THE CHANCE! Neuer punts downfield, Ozil turns up on the right and paints a beautiful cross into the middle! Hummels is there! the moment Germany has been waiting for! But he heads into his shoulder and the ball sails behind!

90+1’ - GOAL! OR NOT! The corner deflects off Sula, Kim Young-gwon takes a touch and prods into the top corner ... but the flag goes up!

90+3’ - Kim was in an offside position but the ball came to him off Kroos, ... the ref comes to have a look on the screen….

90+4’ - GOAL! SOUTH KOREA 1-0 GERMANY (Kim) GERMANY ARE FINISHED!

90+7’ - RRRRRIDICULOUS GOAL! South Korea 2--0 Germany (Son) Sun jeo robs Neuer, the zany zaneball, the ball goes forward, and Son slips into an empty net!