sport news Germany mocked after getting knocked out of World Cup in group stage trends now

Germany are out of the world cup. At the group stage. For the second tournament in a row. Cue a ruthless mocking on social media. 

Alan Shearer led the onslaught by tweeting a video of himself cracking up alongside Micah Richard and Gary Lineker, and was joined by football fans from around the world enjoying the schadenfreude of the four-time champions crashing out. 

England supporters were particularly overjoyed, comparing the Japan goal which doomed the Germans - allowed to stand by a controversial VAR decision - to Frank Lampard's disallowed goal at the 2010 world cup.

'Now you know how it feels' read one tweet. Another mocked-up image showed Lampard in the VAR booth, laughing as he ruled the ball which led to Japan's goal had not left the pitch.

Germany headed into their final group stage match with Costa Rica knowing they not only needed a win but also had to see results elsewhere go their way in order to make to to the round of 16. 

When Spain took the lead early against Japan things appeared to be going the way many had predicted, but then the script was torn up.

Japan equalised against Spain and Costa Rica took the lead, meaning that for a brief moment in time both Spain and Germany would have been knocked out.

The Germans battled back, eventually winning their game 4-2 and dooming the Costa Ricans - but an unlikely Japan winner meant their result didn't matter. 

That goal was hugely controversial, coming as it did from a cut-back ball that initially appeared to have gone out of play before being bundled into the back of the net.

But VAR ruled that the ball had not entirely left the field - by the merest of fractions - meaning the goal was allowed to stand.

In the end, it means Japan emerged as unlikely group winners followed by Spain, sending Costa Rica and Germany home.