Mexico was emotional after their 1-0 win. Photo by PETER POWELL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock (9718610nu)
Mexico 1, Germany 0
Group F, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
What a match. Electric Mexico gave its many fans in Russia a good show and gave the World Cup its first real shock with a 1-0 victory over the defending champion. It became the first non-European team to shut out Germany at the World Cup since Brazil in the 2002 final, per ESPN Stats & Info, and it did it with young superstar Hirving “Chucky” Lozano’s goal in the 35th minute.
In fact, you might accurately call the upset an earthquake.
Mexico, despite possessing the ball only 41 percent of the time, had Germany on its heels all match. El Tri made Die Mannschaft look lackadaisical on defense and on offense; Germany had few clear chances despite a walloping 26 shots — twice the number Mexico took. No wonder there were so many tears on Mexico’s sideline after.
Germany had not lost a meaningful match since July 2016, a stretch of 14 games. But its uninspired run in pre-World Cup friendlies (1-3-2, with the lone win by 2-1 over Saudi Arabia) might have carried over. At least, it could take some solace knowing World Cup holders haven’t won their opening game in four of the last five tournaments. The only ones to do it were Brazil in 2006, per The Guardian.
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What’s next
Germany: vs. Sweden in Sochi, June 23.
Mexico: vs. South Korea in Rostov-on-Don, June 23.
Complete World Cup standings and schedule
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In-Game Updates
Brandt’s shot hits the post
Germany knocked the ball around in the box for a solid 30 seconds before Julian Brandt’s shot just barely clipped the right side of the post and careened out of danger. It’s one of those days, for Germany.
Germany’s frustration is showing
Two yellow cards for Die Mannschaft in the past couple of minutes: Tomas Muller gets booked after tripping Hector Herrera in the 84th minute, and Hummels just earned one for a late tackle just moments after Mexico’s keeper saves a shot from Toni Kroos.
Layun keeps pushing
Mexico isn’t letting up anytime soon, especially not after Germany put an extra forward on the field and took a defender away. In the 79th minute, Layun sped down the field and ended up one-on-one with Mats Hummels before he cut right and his shot sailed over the net. After, Mexico wasted a three-on-two counterattack with a poor pass to Layun. They’re still pushing.
Marquez appears
Captain Rafa Marquez, 39, replaced Guadardo in the 74th minute for Mexico and becomes the third player in history to play in five World Cups.
Important sub, Pt. II
Chucky Lozano, whose goal could end up being the game-winner, is taken out for Raul Jimenez in the 66th minute.
Important sub
Mexico makes a change on the defensive in the 58th minute, replacing forward Carlos Vela — who’s had a very good game — with defender Edson Alvarez. Germany makes its first change two minutes later, putting in Marco Reus for Sami Khedira.
Halftime update: Mexico leads, 1-0
Intermission couldn’t have come quickly enough for the defending champions, who desperately need to find a way to resettle and knock Mexico’s confidence down a peg. El Tri have absolutely blitzed Germany’s languid defense so far, despite that Die Mannschaft has controlled the ball for 64 percent of the time. Mexico hasn’t held a lead against Germany since June 19, 1998, per ESPN Stats & Info. That’s quite a streak at stake.
Goooooooooooooooooool!
And it couldn’t have been a better pair. Chicharito Hernandez broke away and got a perfectly timed pass to Lozano, who cut inside to beat Germany’s No. 10 Mesut Ozil and score on his second touch. El Tri pulled ahead 1-0 in the 35th minute. scores on his second touch after getting around his Germany defender and El Tri are ahead 1-0.
Mexico’s free kick doesn’t go the distance
El Tri are making the defending champions uncomfortable early, and Germany hasn’t had too many chances to get out of its own defensive end. Mexico’s second free kick, far out and to the right, ends up bouncing right to Neuer. But boy, does Mexico look threatening.
A cracking start for El Tri
Mexico charged right out of the gate with Hirving Lozano streaking right at keeper Manuel Neuer. Lozano looked like the was going to beat the German for a moment, but defender Jermone Boateng diverted his shot over the net at the last second. El Tri threatened again before Germany got a shot off. Later, in the ninth minute, Miguel Layun sends a free kick way too high, and Neuer breathes a sigh of relief.
Starting lineups
Mexico fans have landed in Russia
El Tri’s die-hards are out in full force to support their side against the defending champions.
Pregame thoughts
This tasty matchup between Group F’s two heavyweights pits perennial top dog Germany against a Mexican team dogged by an inability to get out of the round of 16. Germany (technically, Germany and West Germany) has the second-most World Cup championships in tournament history with four (Brazil has five), and arrives in Russia as the defending champion. Mexico, meanwhile, has been defeated in the round of 16 in each of the past six World Cups.
This time around, El Tri has an appealing mix of weathered veterans, including 39-year-old Rafa Marquez, and confident youngsters who helped carry the squad to an undefeated run and first-place finish in Concacaf qualifying. Mexico has plenty of experience playing together, but is hardly the German machine that cruised through qualifying by scoring 43 goals and conceding only four. Die Mannschaft skews slightly younger than usual this summer without Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Philipp Lamm on the roster, and has only nine players turning from 2014’s championship side. But with experienced talents like Thomas Mueller, Manuel Neuer and Mats Hummels anchoring the squad, Germany is still in fine position to become the third team in history to win back-to-back World Cups.
Team Profiles
Germany
- Last World Cup showing: Champion, 2014.
- Best finish: Germany has four World Cups; it also won in 1990, 1974 and 1954.
- Notable: In eight trips to the final, Germany has finished as runner-up a record four times. It has also played 106 World Cup games, more than any other nation.
- FIFA world ranking: 1. ELO world ranking: 2.
Mexico
- Last World Cup showing: Round of 16, 2014.
- Best finish: Quarterfinals, 1986 and 1970 — the two times Mexico hosted the World Cup.
- Notable: Mexico has lost in the round of 16 in every World Cup since 1994. Brazil and Germany are the only other teams to have reached five consecutive knockout rounds.
- FIFA world ranking: 15. ELO world ranking: 18.
[‘GOOOOOOOOL!’ Andres Cantor is the Spanish-speaking American voice of the World Cup]
Players to watch
Mexico’s 22-year-old, right-footed left winger Hirving Lozano isn’t just El Tri’s next great hope, he’s one of the World Cup’s brightest young stars, full stop. In his first season with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, “Chucky,” as he’s called, led the team with 17 goals and had eight assists in just 29 appearances. He’ll work with Major League Soccer standout Carlos Vela, who had seven goals in his first 11 matches as a right wing for Los Angeles FC. Germany, meantime, is stuffed with talent, but no one is as fun to watch in international events as Thomas Mueller. The wing-striker hybrid has 10 World Cup goals in 13 matches, which ties him for eighth on the all-time scoring list. He’ll be supported in the midfield by Toni Kroos, who dictates tempo for Germany, and captain Manuel Neuer in goal. Neuer came back from a nine-month injury layoff to play his first match on June 2.
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