About Joachim Löw and Germany's World Cup Defeat
Since taking the reins of Germany, Joachim Löw has not only brought dynamism to the team but also achieved numerous victories, including the fourth star on the jersey after winning the title in Brazil.
Although several key players from that fourth World Cup title were no longer active to bring them to Russia, Germany arrived with all their credentials to defend their crown. They also had Löw on the bench, a coach synonymous with success.
Surprisingly, Germany fell victim to the champions' curse and was eliminated in the group stage on Wednesday, after a 2-0 defeat against South Korea. They became the fourth reigning champion in the last five World Cups to not survive the group stage, just as it happened to France in 2002, Italy in 2010, and Spain in 2014.
The debacle leaves a question mark about Löw's future as the manager of the four-time world champion.
"Obviously, I have to take responsibility for what happened," acknowledged the 58-year-old coach. "I need a couple of hours to understand. I didn't expect a loss to South Korea, I was optimistic, the disappointment is enormous for me as well, I will wait until tomorrow and there will be conversations." "We deserved to be eliminated," Löw said.
Before the tournament, Löw had an impressive record as a coach: 106 victories in 160 matches, 30 draws, and 24 losses.
The German coach signed a contract extension until 2022 before the start of the World Cup. (D)