Joachim Low made five changes from that skin-of-their-teeth win over Sweden at the weekend, but saw his side punished for yet another blunt and disjointed performance in midfield and attack.

It is the first time the four-time winners have ever failed to make it through the group stage. They last bowed out in the opening round in 1938.

South Korea were resolute throughout, but should have been tested with far greater intensity by a side with such attacking talent at their disposal.

The jubilation on the pitch and in the stands from those in red as the Taegeuk Warriors celebrated their stoppage time goals will be one of the takeaway memories from a World Cup that continues to confound and astound.

SOUTH KOREA

Jo Hyeon-woo (GK) - 9

Don't be surprised to see Jo playing club football in Europe next season - the 26 year-old's agile and commanding performances in all three of South Korea's group games will have attracted attention. His acrobatic save to stop Leon Goretzka's header midway through the second half was outstanding.

Lee Yong (RB) - 7

Most of Germany's first-half attacks came down Lee's side - that Jonas Hector was found in space with such regularity didn't reflect greatly on him, but he nullified the threat after the break.

Yun Young-sun (CB) - 9

This was only Yun's seventh cap for the national side, and on this evidence you had to wonder why - the 29 year-old's excellent positioning was a source of constant frustration for Germany.

Kim Young-gwon (CB) - 8

A key component of South Korea's nigh-on faultless defence - and at the death, he went and stole victory, finishing cooly past Manuel Neuer after a scramble in the box, and dashing off in frenzied celebration. The linesman's offside flag was raised, but after VAR consultation, the goal was given.

Hong Chul (LB) - 8

Cooly and calmly dealt with any long balls sent up from Germany's backline, and was very well-composed on the ground too, even when under pressure from Timo Werner and Joshua Kimmich.

Lee Jae-sung (RW) - 7

Quickly set about demonstrating his intention to press the opposition and prevent them building from the back. Followed the brief by repeatedly feeding Son at the earliest opportunity.

Jang Hyun-soo (CM) - 8

Jang is naturally a centre-back, and that was the position he took up whenever Germany advanced - all in all, another brick in the stubborn South Korean wall.

Jung Woo-young (CM) - 7

Booked after just eight minutes for a rash tackle on Hector, then lost the ball in a dangerous area to allow Germany their first sight of goal. He composed himself after that to provide a more steady influence in South Korea's midfield.

Moon Seon-min (LW) - 6

The stand-out feature of his afternoon was his repeated fouls on German midfielders - he was keen to press the world champions but did so with too much intensity, and was finally booked after 48 minutes.

Son Heung-min (CF) - 8

Son provided the main concern for Mats Hummels and Niklas Sule whenever South Korea broke forward, but his accuracy was lacking - from good positions, he thrashed a shot over the bar in the first half and dragged an effort wide in the second.

He couldn't miss his final shot of the game, though - a simple pass into an empty net to bury the holders with Manuel Neuer stranded halfway up the pitch.


Koo Ja-cheol (CF) - 5

Both he and Son were earning their 70th caps, but Koo was unable to link up successfully with his celebrated strike partner and had to withdraw from the fray with injury ten minutes after the break.

SUBS

Hwang Hee-chan - N/A

Introduced after 56 minutes and subbed off again after 79 - the forward was replaced with defender Go Yo-han, presumably to preserve the point.

Ju Se-jong - 7

Made himself busy in midfield, directing a number of enterprising passes towards Son in an attempt to catch Germany on the hop.

Go Yo-han - N/A

Hwang's replacement.

GERMANY

Manuel Neuer (GK) - 5

South Korea so nearly took the lead in the first half when Neuer made a mess of what looked a fairly routine catch of Jung's long-range free-kick. Once Kim had put them in front, he abandoned his goal and spent the remainder of stoppage time playing play up top, allowing Son to hammer the final nail in the coffin.

Joshua Kimmich (RB) - 5

Didn't have a lot of defending to do, yet wasn't very much involved in Germany's attacks. He will undoubtedly be a huge part of Germany's future but his first World Cup has rather passed him by.


Niklas Sule (CB) - 6

Sule was often found stepping over the half-way line to become an auxiliary midfielder and push South Korea back towards their own goal. Got his positioning spot on when he was required to intercept crosses from wide, but his aimless prod from a Korean corner teed up Kim to score the opener.

Mats Hummels (CB) - 6

Put in decent shift, expertly nipping a toe in to frequently steal possession from the Taegeuk Warriors. However, he could, and should, have made the decisive impact at the other end in the 86th minute. Mesut Ozil swung in a perfect cross, only for Hummels to miss his header and shoulder it into the stand. Still found time to miss another two chances after that, too.

Jonas Hector (LB) - 6

On his 40th cap, Hector had a great first half, persistently jetting up the wing and providing quality support to Die Mannschaft's attack. He vanished in the second half, though.

Toni Kroos (CM) - 5

He produced a excellent bit of intricate link-up play with Ozil in the box that, for once, and for the briefest of moments, had South Korea in a panic. The bad news is that this only happened once all game.

Sami Khedira (CM) - 4

Another overly-conservative outing for the Juventus midfielder. Hooked for Mario Gomez just before the hour mark.

Leon Goretzka (RW) - 4

On his World Cup debut, Goretzka didn't quite display the confidence you'd expect from a Bayern Munich-bound midfielder - he made a few wayward passes and looked hesitant to take people on. Subbed for Thomas Muller. 

Mesut Ozil (AMF) - 5

Back in the team after sitting it out against Sweden, Ozil showcased his trademark dips of the shoulder and nimble bursts through the middle of the park, but when he found himself in genuinely threatening positions, he took too long on the ball. Too cool for school - and not in a good way.

Marco Reus (LW) - 4

Reus was given licence to roam, making it difficult for the Koreans to keep tabs on him. Sprung into life with the ball at his feet but couldn't produce any sort of end product. Aged 29 and on the decline, this could be the end of his World Cup story.

Timo Werner (CF) - 6

Werner got himself a lot more involved in this match than in his previous two, thanks to his willingness to peel wide, which enabled him to run at backtracking defenders. He tried a number of shots but repeatedly found a South Korean body flung in the way and exits the tournament without a goal.


SUBS

Mario Gomez - 3

Had two of Germany's best chances, nodding a header straight at Jo before fluffing a six-yard tap-in.

Thomas Muller - 3

Low would have been desperate for him to make an impact. He made none whatsoever.

Julian Brandt - 5

By the time he came on, with just over ten minutes remaining, South Korea had formed a nine-man barricade in the box. They were not about to be beaten.