Germany’s World Cup dreams are officially over and the world reacted in one word: Schadenfreude.
The German noun for “joy derived by someone from someone’s misfortune” took social media by storm as Germany became the fourth casualty of the infamous “Champion’s Curse” of the holder being knocked out at the first hurdle in the following tournament.
In a dismal performance, Germany lost 2-0 to South Korea Wednesday to crash out, enabling a jubilant Mexico to qualify despite losing 3-0 to Sweden.
Germany coach Joachim Low was understandably “shocked.”
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He wasn’t the only one. The German team’s social media channels were lost for words.
Players were disbelieving.
Fans were in tears.
Newspapers back home were up in arms.
Bild’s headline screamed: “Without words” alongside a picture of a dejected Toni Kroos after the final whistle.
It was a nod to a previous headline when Germany thrashed Brazil 7-1 in the semifinal of the 2014 World Cup in Belo Horizonte.
Der Tagesspiegel went further, with a picture of Low and the word “Aus!” (out).
Germany’s premature exit put it alongside France, Italy and Spain as defending World Cup champions failing to progress four years later.
It was the earliest Germany had been dumped out of a World Cup since 1938.
It clearly wasn’t supposed to happen this early to a four-time winner and four-time runner-up.
But elsewhere, the schadenfreude was strong.
Brazil’s Fox Sports couldn’t hide its glee, given what happened four years ago.
Others were joining in the fun, too.
Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport ran with a headline saying, “See you on the beach,” while Britain’s The Sun spelled out what it was thinking.
For Mexican fans, there was a party and South Koreans were invited. Germany’s defeat meant Mexico advanced for the seventh time in a row since 1994.
In response, hundreds of jubilant Mexican fans rushed to the South Korean embassy in the capital.
They chanted “Corea, hermano, ya eres Mexicano,” which translates to “Korea, brother, you’re now Mexican.”
Embracing the spirit of the two countries’ new found kinship, South Korean ambassador to Mexico Kim Sang-il and the consul general, Han Byoung-jin, both came out to party with the fans.
The two men appeared to accept offers of a tequila shot, according to video posted on social media.
“They are crazy but I’m also crazy today,” Han said, according to a video posted on the New York Times.
Video also shows embassy officials participating in a rendition of an old Mexican folk song “Cielito lindo” alongside fans.
Outside the stadium in Ekaterinburg, Mexican fans found a Korean supporter and hoisted him in the air in celebration.
Relations between Mexico and South Korea were at an all-time high.
At the World Cup, one team’s loss is always another team’s gain.
CNN en Español’s Álvaro Valderrama contributed reporting
