Germany 0 : 1 Mexico
by Dan Gaichas
MOSCOW, RUS—For the first time since 1982 against Algeria, Germany dropped their opening match at the World Cup. They fell, 1-0, to Mexico at the Luzhniki Stadium in Russia. It is also the first time since 1990 that a defending champion opened the World Cup with a loss when Argentina were beaten by Cameroon.
Germany appeared taken aback in the first half whenever Mexico went on a counter attack. As Germany’s wing backs moved forward, they would be caught out whenever Mexico went on a counter. It was only lack of an end product that prevented Mexico from capitalizing. That was until the 35th minute.
Hector Herrera took the ball off Sami Khedira and Hector Moreno sent it to Javier Hernandez (Chicharito). After a give-and-go with Andres Guardado, Chicharito fed the ball to Hirving Lozano who scored after rounding Mesut Ozil.
The Germans simply could not find a way past the Mexican back four who were stellar throughout the match and any shot on target—all nine of them in fact—went straight to Guillermo Ochoa. Rafa Marquez became the third man to play in five World Cups after Antonio Carbajal and Lothar Mattheus.
“We are very happy, my team-mates and I did some great work, we all ran our hearts out and this is the result of all this hard work,” said Lozano.
”I don’t know if it the biggest victory in (Mexican) history but one of the biggest for sure. It is great to start on the right foot when you are playing against the world champions.”
Germany on the other hand, only left themselves with a lot to answer for after this loss and after an indifferent preparation leading to Russia. The last two World Cup winners (Italy and Spain) failed to get out of the group stage as defending champions of the subsequent World Cup. Germany has made at least quarterfinals in every World Cup since 1962.
Germany take on Sweden next in Sochi (1pm CT, FOX) while Mexico will take on South Korea in Rostov (10am CT, FOX).
SCORING SUMMARY:
MEX-Hirving Lozano (Hernandez) 35
BOOKING SUMMARY:
MEX-Hector Moreno (caution, time-wasting) 40
GER-Thomas Muller (caution, tactical foul) 83
GER-Mats Hummels (caution, tactical foul) 84
MEX-Hector Herrera (caution, tactical foul) 90
GERMANY (4-2-3-1): #1-Manuel Neuer; #18-Joshua Kimmich, #17-Jerome Boateng, #5-Mats Hummels, #2-Marvin Plattenhardt (#23-Mario Gomez 60); #6-Sami Khedira (#11-Marco Reus 79) , #8-Toni Kroos; #13-Thomas Muller, #10-Mesut Ozil, #7-Julian Draxler; #9-Timo Werner (#20-Julian Brandt 86)
Subs not used: #22-Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, #12-Kevin Trapp, #19-Sebastian Rudy, #21-Ilkay Gündogan, #16-Antonio Rüdiger, #4-Matthias Ginter, #14-Leon Goretzka, #15-Nikas Süle
MEXICO (4-2-3-1): #13-Guillermo Ochoa; #3-Carlos Salcedo, #2-Hugo Ayala, #15-Hector Moreno, #23-Jesus Gallardo; #16-Hector Herrera, #18-Andres Guardado (#4-Rafa Marquez 74); #7-Miguel Layun, #11-Carlos Vela (#21-Edson Alvarez 58), #22-Hirving Lozano (#9-Raul Jimenez 66); #14-Javier Hernandez
Subs not used: #1-Jose Corona, #12-Alfredo Talavera, #19-Oribe Peralta, #10-Giovani Dos Santos, #17-Jesus Corona, #8-Marco Fabian, #20-Javier Aquino, #6-Jonathan Dos Santos, #5-Erick Gutierrez
Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRN)
Assistant Referees: Reza Sokhandan (IRN), Mohammed Mansouri (IRN)
4th Official: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan (UAE)
VAR: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)
Assistant VARs: Carlos Astroza (CHI), Wilton Sampaio (BRA), Mark Geiger (USA)