KAZAN, Russia - Everyone was waiting for Germany to score another late World Cup-saving goal.
It never came.
Instead, the Germans became the fourth reigning champions in the past five tournaments to be eliminated in the opening round. Germany's exit came after a 2-0 loss Wednesday to South Korea in their Group F finale.
The four-time champions of soccer's quadrennial showcase allowed a pair of goals in stoppage time - all while knowing a 1-0 victory would have been enough to advance because of the result in the other F finale, in which Sweden beat Mexico 3-0 to win the group.
"It's very, very hard to put it into words," said Germany defender Mats Hummels, a member of the team that won in Brazil four years ago. "We believed until the end today. Even when it was 0-1, I think we kept trying to turn it all around."
Germany ended up last in the group and South Korea was also eliminated, while runner-up Mexico joined Sweden in advancing to the round of 16.
It was the first time Germany has been knocked out in the first round since 1938, though the team was not allowed to enter the 1950 tournament. Germany had made it to the quarterfinals at the past nine World Cups and reached at least the semifinals at every tournament since 2002.
"It's a dark day for German football," Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said.
Even in Yekaterinburg, nearly 500 miles away, the Mexican fans expected Germany to score. Their team was still in position to advance despite trailing Sweden, but they were waiting - some with tears in their eyes - for Germany to do the inevitable and ruin their chances of moving on.
That's when South Korea stepped up.
Kim Young-gwon scored the first goal in the third minute of injury time, a play that sent the Koreans cheering in Kazan and made the Mexicans delirious in Yekaterinburg. Originally called out for offside, the goal was given after video review.
Son Heung-min made it 2-0 in the sixth minute of stoppage time after Neuer came up the field to help his teammates outside the South Korea box. Son tapped the ball into an empty net after a long pass from Ju Se-jong.
Besides Germany this year, France in 2002, Italy in 2010 and Spain in 2014 were the previous reigning champs eliminated in the group stage.
All four teams in the group had a chance to advance in games that were being played simultaneously, but Sweden's big lead over Mexico put Germany in prime position to move on as well - if the Germans could score against the South Koreans.
"We deserved to be eliminated," Germany coach Joachim Loew said. "For us, this is a huge disappointment. But we have young players who are talented and have the potential to go forward. It happened to other nations before. We need to draw the right conclusions."
Sweden 3, Mexico 0
YEKATERINBURG, Russia - Never challenged in the second half, the Swedes rolled to a rout just four nights after their gut-wrenching last-minute loss to Germany.
Sweden will make its first appearance in the knockout stage since 2006 when it faces Group E runner-up Switzerland on Tuesday in St. Petersburg. Mexico will face Group E winner Brazil on Monday in Samara as El Tri plays in the round of 16 for the seventh straight World Cup. Mexico's fans are desperate for their national team's first quarterfinal appearance in 32 years - the elusive "quinto partido," or fifth game.
Sweden didn't want to focus on getting revenge by helping eliminate Germany, which got some favorable calls in a tense 2-1 victory over the Swedes on Saturday night.
"We grew another little bit," Sweden coach Janne Andersson said. "I am not going to sit here and gloat having won a match or boast about a win. We don't want to stir things up too much."
Ludwig Augustinsson volleyed a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa from close range five minutes into the second half, and captain Andreas Granqvist converted a penalty kick in the 62nd minute to help Sweden take control. Mexico's Edson Alvarez had an own goal in the 74th minute to put the game out of reach.
Both teams finished with six points in the group, but Sweden won with a plus-3 goal differential.
It capped an emotional week for Sweden. The team made a unified statement Sunday defending member Jimmy Durmaz from criticism and racist attacks after his late foul led to a free kick that won the game for Germany.
As Sweden's lead grew Wednesday, Mexican fans paid more attention to the group's other finale while rooting against Germany.
"We just need to move on," Ochoa said. "This is the World Cup. We can't pull it out of our pocket, it's not going to be easy, and I think it's a good lesson for what's to come."
Meixco defender Hector Moreno got his second yellow card of the tournament and must sit out the next game. Sweden's Sebastian Larsson, carted off in the second half with a head injury, also received a second yellow and is suspended as well.
Mexico's Jesus Gallardo was called for a yellow card just 13 seconds in, believed to be the fastest in World Cup history.