Tournament exit raises questions about Simeone's Atletico reign

PASADENA, California — Atletico Madrid will have to pick itself up again as it packs its bags to travel back home earlier than most expected from the Club World Cup, after being knocked out of the tournament in the group stage.

Diego Simeone's side was eliminated, despite a 1-0 victory over Brazil's Botafogo in its final Group B match on Monday, as it finished third in the so-called group of death, level on six points with Paris Saint-Germain and Botafogo, but falling short on goal difference.

The damage was largely inflicted in that opening 4-0 thrashing by PSG, a scoreline that would ultimately prove fatal to its ambitions in FIFA's revamped multimillion dollar showcase.