The group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup was, arguably, the greatest in the history of the tournament. Upsets became the norm. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the two top footballers of their generation, both advanced to the knockout rounds, albeit in different ways. Russia, the hosts of the competition, gave supporters reasons to believe a miracle remains possible heading into a showdown with a Spain side that was rather lackluster in its first three appearances.
It should come as no surprise to even casual viewers that Germany floods any list of the biggest disappointments from this year's World Cup group stage. The reigning world champions flopped out of the competition despite being handed a lifeline on their last night on the pitch, and observers around the world are left wondering what's next for the program's leader and a squad that needs to be rebuilt, possibly from scratch.
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