'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4 Germany
There has been a trend of champions going out in the group stages for the last three World Cups. 2006 champions Italy and 2010 champions Spain were eliminated in the very next edition of the World Cup respectively. But not many would have thought that the 2014 champions Germany would follow the same footsteps.
The shocking thing about their early exit is that they were humiliated with a bottom finish on the group tables. From a neutral perspective, it is fair to say that Germany did not deserve to progress to the knock out stages. Their performance was going down persistently throughout their matches.
Germany started their World Cup campaign with a goal to nil defeat against Mexico, which sent them an early warning bell about what was going to follow. Although they managed to sneak through in their second match against Sweden, courtesy of late winner from Tony Kroos, they never looked like a team that was going to win.
A humiliating defeat against South Korea in the third match sealed their fate. It was rather disappointing to see how their world class players performed in this World Cup.
