Herberger was forced to coach a new 'greater Germany' team (including the now-annexed Austria) which meant that he had to involve players from the newly defunct Austrian team. The highly favourited German side, now weakened by the unfamiliar Austrian additions, was immediately knocked out by Switzerland in the first round of the 1938 World Cup, Germany's worst World Cup performance to date. Eventual success from the team was prevented by World War II, and subsequent sanctions against Germany, banning them from international football.