Germany have failed to qualify from the group stages at a World Cup finals for the first time since 1938.
AFP looks at five reasons why the holders performed so badly in Russia:
Loew's misguided loyalty
Head coach Joachim Loew has always stuck by his tried and trusted stars -- but it was Germany's undoing in Russia.
Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira are glaring examples of Loew's misguided loyalty.
Both were dropped for the 2-1 win over Sweden after woeful performances in the opening shock defeat to Mexico, yet neither made an impact when recalled for Wednesday's 2-0 defeat to South Korea.
Thomas Mueller, one of the heroes from the 2014 win, was rightly dropped from the starting 11 against South Korea but failed to make an impact as he came off the bench.
Even Toni Kroos, fresh from winning the Champions League with Real Madrid, was a shadow of his usual self in Russia, only redeeming himself with the winning goal against Sweden.
A cleanout of the winners from four years ago, many of whom are past their sell-by dates, is on the cards.
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— Arnold (@w_arnoldwk) June 27, 2018
?? 2002: France OUT in Group Stage
?? 2006: Italy WIN World Cup
?? 2010: Italy OUT in Group Stage
?? 2010: Spain WIN World Cup
?? 2014: Spain OUT in Group Stage
?? 2014: Germany WIN World Cup
?? 2018: Germany Out in Group Stage
Stagnation
Russia 2018 is a serious dent to Loew's golden reputation and his 12-year reign could be coming to an end.
Loew has already said he is considering his future, despite signing a contract extension until 2022 only last month.
Germany have stagnated in the last 12 months.
Loew has not developed the team tactically, torn between the 4-2-3-1, which won the World Cup, or toying with deploying a back three.
A lack of tempo in Germany's game has been a glaring factor and when the pressure was on, none of his stars could crack the South Korean defence.
Confirmation #SWE and #MEX progress to Round of 16.
How many of you predicted this table at start of the #WorldCup? pic.twitter.com/lfAmgW4pZ0
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 27, 2018
Only one stat matters for #SWE and #MEX, though...
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 27, 2018
They are both through to the knock-outs!#MEXSWE pic.twitter.com/uyg8DBMdO5
Talent unnurtured
Germany won last year's Confederations Cup without their stars, but Timo Werner was the only emerging starlet to be given a regular starting berth in the senior team.
Leon Goretzka, who led Germany's midfield brilliantly at the Confederations Cup last year, Niklas Suele, Julian Brandt and Sebastian Rudy are only given their chance when Loew's first-choice stars are suspended or injured.
The decision to omit Manchester City's Leroy Sane, the Premier League's Best Young Player last season, from the World Cup squad spoke volumes when fresh impetus was badly needed in Russia.
Germany had a historically bad FIFA World Cup. pic.twitter.com/OdOXUGaRTM
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 27, 2018
'Tournament team' myth
Before the World Cup started, both Kroos and Jerome Boateng confidently described Germany as "a tournament team" who switch on for finals, and the feeling was things would just click eventually.
The myth was blown clean away by the defeats to Mexico, South Korea and the nervy, last-gasp win over Sweden.
It is a consequence of too many Germany stars enjoying their status as World Cup winners without the performances to back it.
Germany qualified for Russia with a perfect record of ten wins and as Mats Hummels admitted after defeat to South Korea, the last time the team played well together was late 2017.
The writing on the wall, from defeats to Brazil and Austria, plus a shaky win over Saudi Arabia in a pre-tournament friendly, was ignored to Germany's peril.
Thank you for all your support during this campaign ? We can only apologise that we failed to do it justice. No matter what, we always stay #ZSMMN ?? pic.twitter.com/iHONoYKwFO
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) June 27, 2018
Shaky defence
In Russia, Germany were nowhere near the compact unit which conceded just four goals in seven games at the 2014 World Cup.
First-choice centre-backs Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng are short of pace and too often left to fend for themselves at the back.
Despite only recently returning from a fracture foot, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was too often called upon as Germany's last line of defence.
The lack of German defenders hurling themselves into tackles, like they did in Brazil four years ago, has been glaring in Russia, as was the lack of composure when defending.
As much as it hurts to bow out this early, congratulations to #SWE and #MEX. We wish you good luck in the knockouts ? pic.twitter.com/6gbNpePRTm
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) June 27, 2018
