Germany players leave their training base to head home after shock World Cup exit

Germany have left their training base in Doha for the last time as they prepare to return to Europe after their surprise World Cup elimination in the group stage on Thursday.

In a dramatic evening, Germany came from 2-1 down to beat Costa Rica 4-2, but it wasn’t enough as Japan pulled off an upset win against Spain to knock Hansi Flick’s team out of the tournament on goal difference.

It is the second consecutive World Cup in which Germany has failed to reach the knockout rounds, with the country’s media calling their performance in Qatar a “disgrace”.

Germany was knocked out of the World Cup in the group stage on Thursday night.

The players have now left their training base for the last time to return to Germany.

Now the dejected team is ready to head home, leaving on the team bus on Friday as they headed to the airport.

Thomas Muller was pictured boarding the bus, with the Bayern Munich striker now facing a big decision about his future after hinting he may now retire from international football.

Niclas Fullkrug was one of Germany’s brightest players in Qatar, scoring twice, but this was little consolation for him as he boarded the bus to take the team home.

It was a quick turnaround for the players, who did not return to their team hotel until early Friday morning after some self-examination in the locker room after Thursday’s game.

Thomas Muller has to make a decision on whether to retire from international football

Niclas Fullkrug scored twice in Qatar but is still heading home after just three matches

The wives and girlfriends of the team waited for their partners until 2:45 am, with some of the players looking incredulous that they had been knocked out at the earliest possible stage of the competition.

The team remained silent in the locker room for 10 minutes after thanking their fans, without anyone knowing what to say.

Winger Serge Gnabry, who scored Germany’s first goal on Thursday, summed up the aftermath by saying: “The mood in the cabin was crap, you can imagine.” Much silence and much disappointment, much anger. It’s more angry with ourselves, we came here for a purpose and it’s our fault if we don’t win the games.’

Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff couldn’t bring himself to smile as he prepared to head home.

Meanwhile, Joshua Kimmich called it “the hardest day of my career.”

Kai Havertz scored twice and won man of the match but was in no mood to celebrate, stating that the situation in Germany “might as well be a horror movie”.

Having failed to make it past the round of 16 at last year’s Euros, Germany have now had three disappointing major tournaments in a row, looking a long way from the team that won the World Cup in 2014.

Now they must seek to recover before Euro 2024, which they will host.