Korea Republic v Germany, 27 June 2018

Kick-off: 5.00pm local Korea Republic v Germany was Match 43 of the FIFA World Cup 2018 Refereeing team: Referee: Mark Geiger (USA) Assistant Referee 1: Joe Fletcher (Canada) Assistant Referee 2: Frank Anderson (USA) Fourth Official: Julio Bascunan (Chile) Reserve AR: Christian Schiemann (Chile) VAR: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands) With this sensational defeat, Germany became the fourth defending champions to be eliminated at the group stage in the last five World Cup finals; also France in 2002, Italy in 2010 and in Spain 2014. This was the second time that Germany had been eliminated at the first round stage at the World Cup finals; also in 1938 when, in a knock-out format only, they lost to Switzerland after a replay in Paris. This is the first time it had happened when the first round had been in a group format. Germany would have progressed to the knock-out stages if they had won this game. Sweden finished as Group F winners with Mexico being the runners-up. Despite their famous victory, Korea Republic had now been eliminated from the group stage at consecutive World Cup finals for the first time since they failed to progress in each of their first five appearances at the tournament (1954, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998). KIM Young-gwon's opening goal was originally ruled out for offside before referee Mark Geiger reversed his decision having been advised to review the evidence by VAR official Danny Makkelie. This was Korea Republic’s first clean sheet at the World Cup finals since a 2-0 win against Greece in 2010 so ending a run of eight games at the tournament when they had conceded. This was Germany’s first ever defeat against an Asian nation at the World Cup finals (played six). Korea Republic became the first nation from the AFC confederation to beat the reigning World Cup holders in a 'A' international.