After 80 years of incredible consistency at the World Cup, it is fair to say that Germany's early elimination has come as quite the shock to disappointed fans back home.  One must look back all the way to 1938 to find the last time the nation failed to progress past the first round of football's most important tournament.  But the reigning champions were dethroned in humiliating fashion on Wednesday, with Son Heung-Min's late, decisive goal into an empty net while Manuel Neuer tried to scramble back summing up the most disappointing of campaigns.  Accusing eyes have turned on both the goalkeeper, who returned to the team after months out injured but was far from his best in Russia, and coach Joachim Low, whose future on the bench is now uncertain after 12 years in charge.  And as could be expected, the mood among Germany's biggest media outlets was one of depression as the headlines for tomorrow dailies were released late on Wednesday evening.  'Over and out' - Die Welt Unsere Seite 1 nach dem deutschen WM-Aus. #KORGER #WM2018 pic.twitter.com/nusolGyfKV — WELT (@welt) 27 de junio de 2018 'Out' - Rheinische Post Aus. #WM2018 @rponline @rpo_sport pic.twitter.com/iiIFKeLLOK — Gianni Costa (@_giannicosta) 27 de junio de 2018 'Speechless' - Bild Links: unsere Seite 1 nach dem 7:1 2014. Rechts: unsere Seite 1 nach dem WM-Aus 2018. pic.twitter.com/r0EB0xpSki — BILD (@BILD) 27 de junio de 2018 The famous daily had run a simple title of "Speechless" four years ago, accompanied by a beaming picture of Bastian Schweinsteiger as Germany entered the World Cup final with a 7-1 thrashing of Brazil.  This time, however, Bild is out of words for a different reason, as the editors struggle to digest a near-unprecedented failure for the national team - while the defeat also made the news over in England... 'Germany's downfall' - Frankfurter Allgemeine Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitungのサイトトップで、人間の表情の中で最も絶望的な類のものを見た pic.twitter.com/FT5LVhIL0F — yasu (@Yasuya_su) 27 de junio de 2018 'Schadenfreude' - The Sun Thursday’s SUN: Schadenfreude #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/QcuAM4TZoU — Helen Miller (@MsHelicat) 27 de junio de 2018 'End of the world - as we know it' - Guardian GUARDIAN SPORT: End of the world (as we know it) #tomorrowspaperstoday ⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/yk8bPiRm9v — Helen Miller (@MsHelicat) 27 de junio de 2018

For Nigeria though they may be out of the World Cup, the future looks bright. The Super Eagles have a talented team filled with youngsters whom their coach; Gernot Rohr, believes will be better ready when the World Cup returns in 2022. And he could be right especially with the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho and Oghenekaro Etebo still only in their early 20s. On the other side of the coin, the future for their opponents who crushed their hopes of qualifying for the last 16 seem bleak. Argentina has been an absolute mess in Russia. This is a disjointed team labouring in their matches and pinning all of their hopes on Lionel Messi. Although Marcos Rojo was the messiah against Nigeria, it is hard to see who will be the saviour when they take on France. Indeed the only good news for La Albiceleste here is that Les Bleus have been unconvincing in their performances thus far highlighted by a draw against Denmark, in their final group game. However anyone will tell you that the French have the upper hand considering that their camp is not dogged by players mutinying against their manager. Or the rumour that Messi has now become leader and also manager. Against an impressive Croatia, Argentina was ripped apart partly due to the brilliance of Croatia’s midfield maestros who toyed with them, but the main issue was that the Argentines simply lacked a clear system. This has been the ultimate failure of Coach Jorge Sampaoli who is simply bereft of ideas on how he wants his team to play or what his best players are. It is clearly obvious that while Javier Mascherano is a warrior he is also a liability for them as he made too many costly mistakes against Nigeria. The worst part is that Argentina has no adequate replacement for ‘El Jefe’ and so he must play on even to the detriment of his team at times. It will be difficult to see Argentina progress further and France will be kicking themselves if they fail to get past this band of estranged brothers. But then again the ball is round and anything can happen.  And this means even the possibility of witnessing Argentina somehow emerging triumphant over the French against all odds. Argentine fans will keep dreaming but for Sampaoli and co they need to stop dreaming that Messi will carry them to glory and learn how to operate as a team.