Mexicans rumble, Germans tumble

MOSCOW, June 17 

Defending champions Germany crashed to defeat in their first game at the World Cup on Sunday as an enterprising Mexico refused to be intimidated and came away 1-0 winners in a thrill-packed Group F opener. 

A shaky warm-up campaign had called into question the dominant form the Germans showed in qualifying, but experience and records were on their side, having won every opening game at major tournaments since Joachim Loew took over as coach in 2006.

Juan Carlos Osorio’s side had other ideas, however, holding their own against the favourites’ fearsome but slowing midfield and finding space at the back and seeking to end 33 years without a win against Germany. After wasting a handful of first-half chances while living dangerously in their own half, Hirving Lozano’s 35th-minute strike on the break proved just reward.

When German centre-back Mats Hummels lost possession deep in the Mexican half, Javier Hernandez was released through the middle. He outpaced Jerome Boateng and with a less-than-perfect pass found Lozano, who controlled the ball, cut inside Mesut Ozil, held off a charging Toni Kroos and slotted past Manuel Neuer.

At the other end, Guillermo Ochoa tipped a blistering Kroos free-kick on to the bar minutes later, in what was to prove the Germans’ closest effort of a match in which they had more than 60 percent possession but could not make it count. “Our motto was play with the love of winning and not the fear of losing,” said a delighted Osorio. 

“Mexico deserved the win,” Hummels conceded, noting how he and Boateng were left exposed at the back and saying the team had failed to learn from a recent friendly defeat to Austria. “If we go on like this, I’ll be worried. But I expect us to improve.” 

Germany pressed in the second half but struggled to find the target. Osorio beefed up his defences to hang on, pulling off Lozano and then, with a quarter of an hour left, sending in 39-year-old Rafael Marquez at the back to become the third man ever to play in five World Cups.

Loew threw on Marco Reus in place of Sami Khedira and, with 10 minutes to go, switched left-back Marvin Plattenhardt for a second striker, Mario Gomez, to reinforce Timo Werner, who had failed to make much of a mark in the German spearhead. Mexico had much of the 80,000 crowd in Luzhniki Stadium on its feet as the Germans left ever greater gaps at the back, and the wastefulness notably of Hernandez on the final pass may reassure future opponents that Mexico, while determined to end a Cinderella reputation, have not replaced Germany as favourites.

Youngster Julian Brandt nearly saved Loew’s night after taking over from Werner in the final minutes when he blasted a shot past Ochoa’s right post, and even goalkeeper Neuer came up for a corner in injury time.

But it was not to be. 

Mexico can dream of going better than a consistent record of reaching the last 16 of the last six World Cups and perhaps of improving on the quarterfinal they last reached in 1986. The Germans now face Sweden and South Korea and should still qualify from Group F. But their reputation is not what it was. “We are now under pressure. We have to get six points from the next games,” Kroos said. “We did not do well. We had our chances but didn’t score.” — Reuters

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That was coming: Hummels

The fault lines in Germany’s defence have been there for all to see in recent games and Sunday’s defeat by Mexico should not really be seen as a surprise, defender Mats Hummels said. “Mexico deserved the win. Our cover was often not good and we were left many times with just Jerome (Boateng) and myself in the back,” said centre-back Hummels. “We were warned days ago (in the warm-up games). We played exactly like we did against Saudi Arabia (when Germany won 2-1) only against a better opponent. That’s why the first half was like it was and Mexico obviously deserved to win it. If seven or eight players are attacking then it is clear that our attacking power is greater,” said Hummels. “But that is something that I have often talked about internally. It does not always bear fruit.” 

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2 It was only the second defeat in an opening match at the World Cup for Germany. The first came against Algeria in 1982 when the Germans still managed to reach the final. Germany had scored 20 goals in their previous four opening matches 

1It is Germany’s first opening-game loss at the European Championships or World Cups since Joachim Loew took over in 2006

2It was the second successive World Cup that the champions were beaten in their opening match after Spain were thrashed 5-1 by the Netherlands four years ago. The reigning champions have lost their opening match in four of the last eight World Cups 

5Mexico have now won 5 and drawn 1 of their last six World Cup openers 

3Mexico’s 39-year-old Rafael Marquez became the third man ever to play in five World Cups

33Mexico had last beaten Germany 33 years ago

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Short Passes

Croatia need own goal to beat Nigeria

Saint Petersburg: Croatia beat Nigeria 2-0 on Saturday with an own goal from Oghenekaro Etebo and a penalty from Luka Modric to go top of Group D, one of the toughest and most unpredictable in the tournament. Modric’s coolly taken 71st minute spot-kick gave the scoreline a clear-cut feel, but the fact that Croatia failed to score on their own from open play was testament to some wayward shooting. 

Man United fans cheer de Gea howler

Sochi: David De Gea’s howler was as much responsible as Cristiano Ronaldo’s brilliance for the enthralling 3-3 draw between Spain and Portugal. As expected, Ronaldo was praised to the skies, and the Spanish goalkeeper was ridiculed. Surprisingly, the Manchester United fans weren’t feeling too bad for their star player — de Gea has been adjudged Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year four times, more than any other player ever. Well, the United fans have a rather selfish reason to rejoice in de Gea’s moment of misery. For them, de Gea’s rare howler means Real Madrid could be a little less interested in snatching away the goalkeeper from them!  

Salah to play in Egypt’s next match    

Saint Petersburg: Mohamed Salah celebrated his 26th birthday with a Chechen cake and the news that he will play in Egypt’s next World Cup match. A statement from the Egyptian soccer association gave no details about his fitness except that the striker participated fully in training on Saturday in Grozny, the team’s base in Russia’s Chechnya region.  

Mexican fans chant slur during game 

Moscow: Mexican fans chanted a homophobic slur at Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during their game today. FIFA has repeatedly fined the Mexican football federation over the chant. — Agencies

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