Germany crashes out of World Cup after embarrassing defeat by South Korea

CNN)The curse of the World Cup winners continues.

A "shocked" Germany became the third straight reigning champion to be knocked out in the group stage at the next World Cup -- following Italy and Spain -- after losing 2-0 to South Korea in Group F on Wednesday.

In an embarrassingly poor performance Germany went behind in the game's closing stages when Kim Young-gwon scored following a video review, with Son Heung-min then breaking away -- German keeper Manuel Neuer was by this stage in the South Korean half -- to add the second.

Just before Germany imploded, defender Mats Hummels fluffed a free header. Had he scored, Germany likely would have staved off elimination.

There was joy for South Korea at the World Cup but dejection for holders Germany.

That result in Kazan, coupled with Sweden's 3-0 win over Mexico in the other group match in Ekaterinburg, meant the Swedes and Mexico progressed to the round of 16. Sweden and Mexico finished on six points, with the Scandinavians finishing first on goal difference.

"I'm shocked," Germany coach Joachim Löw told reporters. "Shocked because we didn't manage to pull it off and beat Korea Republic and we lost this game.

"It wasn't my impression when I spoke to the team before that they were under pressure before the match because the Sweden game was on at the same time and we really had the feeling that our team wanted to move ahead and qualify for the knockout stages."

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

France's Kylian Mbappe, right, celebrates with teammate Antoine Griezmann after scoring against Peru on Thursday. It was the only goal of the match.

Hide Caption

56 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Peru's Andre Carrillo is challenged by French players Paul Pogba, left, and N'Golo Kante.

Hide Caption

57 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

A Peruvian supporter waits for the start of the match.

Hide Caption

58 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Australia's Robbie Kruse, foreground, and Denmark's Henrik Dalsgaard go for a header during the teams' 1-1 draw on Thursday.

Hide Caption

59 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Australia's Joshua Risdon jumps over Thomas Delaney.

Hide Caption

60 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Spain's Diego Costa, right, celebrates with teammate Isco after scoring against Iran on June 20. Spain won 1-0.

Hide Caption

61 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

A fan has his face painted with the colors of the Spanish flag on June 20.

Hide Caption

62 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Referee Andres Cunha speaks with Iranian midfielder Ehsan Hajsafi during the match.

Hide Caption

63 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal in Portugal's 1-0 win over Morocco on June 20. It was his tournament-leading fourth goal.

Hide Caption

64 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Uruguay fans cheer outside the stadium before the match with Saudi Arabia on June 20.

Hide Caption

65 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Saudi Arabia's Fahad Al-Muwallad, left, challenges Uruguay's Diego Godin.

Hide Caption

66 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring for Uruguay in the 23rd minute. It was the only goal of the match, and the final result meant Uruguay and Russia would both advance to the tournament's knockout stage.

Hide Caption

67 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Mohamed Salah kisses the ball before scoring a penalty for Egypt on June 19. Russia won, however, by a final score of 3-1.

Hide Caption

68 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Egypt's Tarek Hamed, left, and Russia's Aleksandr Golovin compete for the ball.

Hide Caption

69 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Russia's first goal came when the ball deflected off Egypt's Ahmed Fathi.

Hide Caption

70 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Members of the Senegal team celebrate after defeating Poland 2-1 in their match on June 19.

Hide Caption

71 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Japanese defender Gen Shoji climbs over Colombia's Radamel Falcao to win a header in their World Cup opener on June 19. Japan won the match 2-1.

Hide Caption

72 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

The referee shows a red card to Colombia's Carlos Sanchez in the third minute. Sanchez was deemed to have deliberately handled the ball in the box.

Hide Caption

73 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

English players celebrate Harry Kane's first goal in the 2-1 win over Tunisia on June 18. Kane later added the winner in second-half stoppage time.

Hide Caption

74 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

A Tunisia fan shows his dejection after the final whistle.

Hide Caption

75 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Belgium's Dries Mertens, right, competes for the ball with Panama's Jose Luis Rodriguez during their World Cup opener on June 18. Mertens scored a goal in Belgium's 3-0 victory.

Hide Caption

76 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Panamanian forward Gabriel Torres controls the ball during the match against Belgium.

Hide Caption

77 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Sweden's Pontus Jansson, top left, and South Korea's Ki Sung-yueng try to head the ball during Sweden's 1-0 victory on June 18.

Hide Caption

78 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Switzerland's Steven Zuber celebrates after scoring a goal against Brazil on June 17. The two teams tied 1-1.

Hide Caption

79 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Brazil's Philippe Coutinho and Switzerland's Breel Embolo compete for the ball.

Hide Caption

80 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Brazilian star Neymar recently came back from a foot injury.

Hide Caption

81 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Mexico's Hirving Lozano, left, celebrates with Jesus Gallardo after scoring the only goal in the upset victory over Germany on June 17. Germany won the World Cup in 2014.

Hide Caption

82 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Fans wave German flags before facing off with Mexico.

Hide Caption

83 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa makes a late save against Mario Gomez.

Hide Caption

84 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Marcos Ureña runs onto the pitch during Costa Rica's opening match against Serbia on June 17. Serbia won 1-0.

Hide Caption

85 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Croatian players celebrate after Luka Modric scored the second goal of their 2-0 win against Nigeria on June 16.

Hide Caption

86 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Nigerian captain John Obi Mikel runs with the ball during the Croatia match.

Hide Caption

87 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Denmark's Yussuf Poulsen reacts after he scored a goal against Peru on June 16. It turned out to be the only goal in the match.

Hide Caption

88 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Peru's Luis Advincula, left, and Denmark's Martin Braithwaite fight for the ball.

Hide Caption

89 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Argentina star Lionel Messi appears downcast at the end of a 1-1 draw with Iceland on June 16. Messi missed a penalty in the match.

Hide Caption

90 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Messi and Iceland's Hordur Magnusson struggle for the ball.

Hide Caption

91 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Fans of France share a kiss before the team's opening match with Australia on June 16.

Hide Caption

92 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

French midfielder Paul Pogba keeps his eye on the ball against Australia. His shot deflected off an Australian for the match-winning goal.

Hide Caption

93 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his first-half penalty against Spain on June 15. He added two more goals in the 3-3 draw.

Hide Caption

94 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Spanish defender Nacho, left, competes for a header with Portugal's Bruno Fernandes. Nacho conceded the early penalty to Ronaldo but responded with a second-half goal.

Hide Caption

95 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Fernando Hierro was making his debut as Spain's manager. The former captain took over two days ago when Spain fired Julen Lopetegui.

Hide Caption

96 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Portuguese defender Raphael Guerreiro controls the ball in the match against Spain.

Hide Caption

97 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Morocco's Aziz Bouhaddouz lies on the ground after heading the ball into his own net late in stoppage time on June 15. The whistle was blown just a few moments later, and Iran won 1-0.

Hide Caption

98 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Iran's Alireza Jahanbakhsh grimaces in pain in front of Morocco's Romain Saiss.

Hide Caption

99 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Uruguay's Luis Suarez, left, and Egypt's Sam Morsy battle for the ball on June 15. Uruguay won 1-0.

Hide Caption

100 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Fans watch the Egypt-Uruguay match from temporary seats set up at the Ekaterinburg Arena. The seats had to be installed to meet FIFA's minimum-seating requirement.

Hide Caption

101 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Egyptian midfielder Abdallah Said heads the ball during the match against Uruguay.

Hide Caption

102 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Fedor Smolov fights off two Saudi defenders during the tournament opener, which Russia won 3-0 on June 14. Russia and Saudi Arabia came into the match as the lowest-ranked teams in the tournament.

Hide Caption

103 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Fans watching from Yekaterinburg, Russia, celebrate Russia's first goal.

Hide Caption

104 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

The ball flies past Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf for Russia's fourth goal.

Hide Caption

105 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

A fan wears body paint in Russia's colors before the opening match.

Hide Caption

106 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to the crowd before kickoff at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Hide Caption

107 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Performers take part in the tournament's opening ceremony.

Hide Caption

108 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

British pop star Robbie Williams headlined the opening ceremony.

Hide Caption

109 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Russian soprano Aida Garifullina sings during the opening ceremony.

Hide Caption

110 of 110

Photos: The best photos of the 2018 World Cup

Germany's Marco Reus reacts after his team lost to South Korea and was knocked out of the World Cup on Wednesday, June 27. The defending champions lost 2-0 and finished at the bottom of Group F.