Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Muller react to Germany's group-stage exit

Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich has branded his side's exit in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup 'the worst day of his career'.

Hansi Flick's side ended their Group E campaign with a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica, but it was not enough for them to advance to the knockout round of the competition.

The four-time world champions finished on four points in their group, level with Spain, but La Roja joined Japan in the last-16 stage of the tournament due to their superior goal difference.

Kimmich, who plays his club football for Bayern Munich, could not hide his disappointment after the match, calling it 'the worst day of his career'.

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"For me personally, this is the worst day of my career," Kimmich told Bild. "I'm afraid I'll fall into a hole! It makes you think, these failures are connected to my person.

"We messed up in 2018, then we blew up the Euros last year."

Meanwhile, Thomas Muller suggested that he could now retire from international duty, with Germany being eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup for the second competition in a row.

"We have had many great moments together. Thank you for everything. If that was my last game for Germany, a few words to the German fans: It was a tremendous pleasure," he told reporters.

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"Thank you very much. I always tried to show heart on the pitch. Sometimes there were tears of joy, sometimes pain. I did it with love. I need to think about everything else now.

"It's an absolute catastrophe. It is unbelievably bitter for us because our result would have been enough [if Spain hadn't lost to Japan]. It's a feeling of powerlessness."

Germany suffered a 2-1 defeat to Japan in their first game of the tournament, before playing out a 1-1 draw with Spain in their second fixture on Sunday.

Flick's side recorded a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica on Thursday, but it was not enough to advance to the knockout round, as Japan's 2-1 win over Spain saw them top Group E, with La Roja making it through on goal difference due to their 7-0 success over Costa Rica in their competition opener.