'Sorry': Germany head home after World Cup agony

Twice former winners Germany crashed out in the opening phase of the Women's World Cup for the first time after being held to a 1-1 draw with South Korea in their final Group H match on Thursday.

The Germans, champions in 2003 and 2007 and ranked second in the world, had needed a win to be sure of progressing and Morocco's 1-0 win over Colombia in the other group match in Perth sent both teams through to the last 16.

The Koreans took a surprise early lead when Cho So-hyun netted in the sixth minute but, while Alexandra Popp equalised with a trademark header three minutes before the interval, Germany were unable to find the winner needed to advance.

Casey Phair, who became the Women's World Cup's youngest ever player earlier in the tournament, almost gave the Koreans the lead when the 16-year-old saw her second minute effort pushed onto the post by goalkeeper Merle Frohms.

Colin Bell's side only had to wait four more minutes to strike, however, when Lee Young-ju's pass from deep split the German defence and the unmarked Cho calmly slotted her first-time shot into the bottom corner.

Germany were frustrated by the hard-pressing Koreans, but in the 42nd minute the former champions levelled as Popp out-jumped the defence to meet Svenja Huth's right wing cross and loop her header beyond Kim Jung-mi.

Voss-Tecklenburg's side threw everything forward after the interval, with Popp's 57th minute header ruled out on review by VAR as the striker strayed offside following a clever flick by Lea Schuller.

The German forward then rattled the crossbar two minutes later with another headed effort and Popp was again denied 16 minutes from time when her bullet-header flew straight into the hands of Kim.

Substitute Sydney Lohmann thumped a pair of efforts just off target deep into almost 16 minutes of added time, but Bell's side hung on for a point that sent the Germans out.

President Donald Trump tweeted Sunday to congratulate the winning team, President Vladimir Putin, and Russia after the World Cup final, which he called "one of the best ever!"

"Congratulations to France, who played extraordinary soccer, on winning the 2018 World Cup. Additionally, congratulations to President Putin and Russia for putting on a truly great World Cup Tournament one of the best ever!," he wrote on his Twitter account on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, the national team of France defeated Croatia 4-2 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup final match in Moscow to snatch its second World Cup Trophy.

Didier Deschamps proclaimed France’s second World Cup triumph was “just as beautiful” as their first after leading them to glory again 20 years on, but Croatia defender Dejan Lovren said that Deschamps' team "did not play football."

"I'm disappointed because we lost the game, we played much, much better football than them, but on the other hand I'm proud of this team and what we have achieved," Lovren said.

"We played beautiful football again. France were one of the favourites to win the World Cup and they did it. I think we were better. They did it another way. They didn't play football, they waited for their chances and they scored. They had their own tactic and you need to respect that. They played the tournament like that, every game, but when you look at all the countries behind us, we're second.” he added.

"There's nothing to talk about now. It's difficult to describe. Maybe after a week or two, a couple of months... right now, it's difficult. Some moments I feel sad, some moments I'm happy. Overall, I'm proud."

Ivan Perisic conceded the first-half penalty after referee Nestor Pitana penalised him for handball following a VAR review.

"I was sure he would not give the pen," said the Liverpool centre-back. "From my point of view, he [Perisic] could not react.

"It was a critical moment, we came back at 1-1, and then this penalty and then 3-1, 4-1, but even then we didn't stop playing football, we still believed, we gave everything, and this is why people are proud now in Croatia."

Didier Deschamps' side had claimed a 1-0 over Belgium in the semifinals with a defensive masterclass which left Belgium star Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois deeply unimpressed with what he felt were overly cagey tactics by France in the semi-final, and now Lovren also felt the frustration of coming up against Deschamps's style. Not always the most entertaining, however, in the end, French squad just had too much talent at its disposal to get the job done.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer admitted that he was no longer Germany number one after making an emotional return to Bundesliga action from a year-long injury on Saturday.

Neuer made his first appearance since breaking his leg last December in Bayern's 8-0 win over Darmstadt, but admitted afterwards that he faced a fight to dislodge Barcelona rival Marc-Andre ter Stegen from the national team goal.

"He is definitely number one at the moment, but that is not something I am thinking about right now," said the 37-year-old, who is hoping to take part in his fourth European Championship when Germany host Euro 2024 next summer.

"I feel positive about the national team. We have great goalkeepers and I am looking forward to the Euros," he said, adding that he had spoken to new Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann the previous day.

"For now, I am just happy to be back and that my comeback went so well."

Neuer, whose last game for Bayern came in November 2022 against Schalke, admitted that he was nervous ahead of his return to action.

"It is always possible that something happens when you come back after a long injury. You can debate for ages about when is the right point to come back. I had a good feeling and I gave the coach the green light," he said.

"It was a very emotional day. I was very excited to be back with the boys on the pitch again in front of our fans."

Neuer refused to swap shirts with Darmstadt keeper Marcel Schuhen after the game, admitting that he wanted to keep his own shirt as a souvenir.

"He understood. I'll make sure I give him a shirt when we play them later in the season," he said.

Russia was the target of almost 25 million cyber-attacks during the World Cup, President Vladimir Putin said, though he did not indicate who may have been behind the attacks.

"During the period of the World Cup, almost 25 million cyber-attacks and other criminal acts on the information structures in Russia, linked in one way or another to the World Cup, were neutralised," Putin said during a meeting on Sunday with security services. The comments were reported by the Kremlin on Monday.