Germany’s 1994 World Cup campaign in the United States was filled with promise but ultimately ended in disappointment. As the reigning world champions from 1990, and now unified after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Germany entered the tournament with high expectations under coach Berti Vogts. Led by key players like Jürgen Klinsmann, Lothar Matthäus, and Andreas Brehme, they topped their group and advanced past Belgium in the Round of 16 with a 3-2 victory. However, their journey ended in the quarterfinals with a shocking 2-1 defeat to Bulgaria, despite taking the lead through a Matthäus penalty. The early exit marked a frustrating end to a campaign that began with strong hopes of a title defense.