Germany have become the third successive nation to follow a World Cup triumph with a group-stage exit.
The 2014 champions, who beat hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semi-finals en route to claiming the trophy, are out after finishing behind Sweden, Mexico and South Korea in Group F.
Here Press Association Sport looks at those reigning champions who have struggled in the following tournament.
1966 – Brazil
Italy (1950, 2010)Brazil (1966)France (2002) Spain (2014)GERMANY (2018) #WorldCup holders who are were eliminated in the (first) group stage when defending the trophy.
— Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) June 27, 2018
The 1966 World Cup is not fondly remembered by everyone. The Brazilians came to England hoping for a hat-trick of successes after triumphing in 1958 and 1962, which was the last time a team successfully defended their world crown. A team featuring Pele, Garrincha and Jairzinho beat Bulgaria but 3-1 losses to Hungary and Portugal resulted in a first-round exit. Four years on in Mexico, Brazil would again win the World Cup with arguably the greatest international team ever.
2002 – France
2010 – Italy
2014 – Spain
2018 – Germany
3 – Germany are the third successive World Cup reigning champions to be eliminated in the group stages after Spain in 2014 and Italy in 2010. Humbled. #GER #KOR #KORGER #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/CMMjn8jgBF
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 27, 2018
Die Mannschaft were not only the defending champions but they had won the Confederations Cup in Russia last summer with a team of reserves, and had cruised through World Cup qualifying without dropping a point. Having lost 1-0 to Mexico, Toni Kroos’ last-gasp winner against Sweden gave the Germans hope but Joachim Low’s men not only failed to get past South Korea but lost 2-0 to finish bottom of the pile in Group F.
