Defending champions Germany slumped to a shocking defeat in their 2018 FIFA World Cup clash with Mexico. The side refused to be intimidated by the fact that they were up against the champions. It paid off and they came away with a 1-0 win.
Die Mannschaft’s form was a little shaky in qualifying, but experience and records were on their side. So far, they had won every opening game at major tournaments since Joachim Low took over as coach in 2006.
However, Mexico decided to change that dynamic. They managed to hold their own against the favourites. Things were a bit unsteady as they wasted a handful of first-half chances while flirting with danger in their own half. Finally, Hirving Lozano’s 35th-minute strike proved to be just the ticket.
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German centre back Mats Hummels lost possession deep in the Mexican half, Javier Hernandez was released. Outpacing Jerome Boateng, his pass found Lozano, who controlled the ball. Lozano cut inside Mesut Ozil, held off a charging Toni Kroos and slotted coolly past Manuel Neuer.
Meanwhile, Guillermo Ochoa tipped a blistering Kroos free kick on to the bar, in what was the Germans’ closest effort so far in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Germany pressed in the second half but struggled to find the target. Osorio beefed up his defence, pulling off Lozano with a quarter of an hour left. 39-year-old Rafael Marquez was sent in at the back to become the third man ever to play in five World Cups.
via Reuters
Soccer Football – World Cup – Group F – Germany vs Mexico – Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia – June 17, 2018 Mexico’s Hirving Lozano celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/Carl Recine
Mexico had much of the 80,000 crowd in Luzhniki Stadium on its feet as the German defence was exposed.
Youngster Julian Brandt nearly saved Germany the blushes after taking over from Timo Werner in the final minutes. Unfortunately, his shot blasted past Ochoa’s right post and just off target. Thing were so desperate that even goalkeeper Neuer came up for a corner in injury time.
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 quarter-final they last reached in 1986.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the match.
Why are the best teams playing worst? #RussiaWorldCup2018 #Argentina #Spain #Portugal #Germany #FifaWorldCup2018
— Jay Mamtora (@beingenthusiast) June 17, 2018
Mexicans really be out here celebrating they damn well know if Germany had won they’d be waving SS flags and saying their is Juan Von Gomez
— Miggle (@DaftDoggo) June 17, 2018
This is insane!!! #WorldCup2018 #Mexico World Cup 2018: Mexico fans may have caused earthquake celebrating win over Germany https://t.co/xHTxMNC3hQ pic.twitter.com/L7zHa1n014
— Emma Mclean (@Emsy001) June 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/RogMort/status/1008483558007164932
https://twitter.com/FoootballPlanet/status/1008401725949136896
Look at the group of Mexican fans turning up in Berlin after Mexico beat Germany. #GERMEX 😂😂😂pic.twitter.com/KbhIQUH0r4
— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) June 17, 2018
USA fans after watching México beat Germany in the #WorldCup 🤣 #GERMEX pic.twitter.com/MM2JwVnZUf
— Ali (@RoyMustang786) June 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/dannyramirez/status/1008377175836250113
Well deserved @miseleccionmxEN
⚽️⚽️⚽️
The balance in the team is not right!! @DFB_Team_EN
No team spirit, hunger or enough Desire!#Löw ist gefordert !!!!!#WorldCup18 #worldcup #DieMannschaft #ZSMMN #GERMEX #WorldCupRussia2018— Michael Ballack (@Ballack) June 17, 2018
#GERMEX Oh My God..Mexico beats Germany..yeah..yeah..yeah🙋🙋🙋👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/N9iiiweZFs
— Jing (@Morkubine21) June 17, 2018
Wie Mauer? There is no wall that can stop mexicans! #GERMEX 😊💚⚽ pic.twitter.com/mrlSr1xJQ4
— Adriana Garibay (@AdrianaGaribayH) June 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/ikjvm_/status/1008483692107436035
Sums up #GERMEX match in the #WorldCup earlier 😅 pic.twitter.com/h9tVb3iaDy
— Monifesto (@ThisCharmingMo) June 17, 2018
To early to switch allegiances…? #Mex #GERMEX pic.twitter.com/kd6yVfJlXm
— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) June 17, 2018
The longest 3 minutes ever! #GERMEX #WorldCup2018 #worldcupsketch pic.twitter.com/VtbhMqrIFt
— lorna tiefholz (@magiclorne) June 17, 2018
What frustrated me about Germanys game was the fact that they seemed unable/unwilling to adapt to Mexicos counter attacks and kept plugging away with the same repeated tactics. They looked slow and threw too much forward. MEX were thoroughly worth the win. #GERMEX #WorldCup
— Phil 'Bundesliga' Bonney (@Bundesliga_Phil) June 17, 2018
Tonight was all #Mexico at the #WorldCup brilliant victory that could have been much more than 1-0! Great job muchachos! Mexican fans are taking over #Moscow#ЧМ2018#GERMEX pic.twitter.com/IF73TIxXy6
— AymanOnline (@aymanonline) June 17, 2018
He was the consensus popular pick before the tournament for “Young Player of the Tournament”. A few days in….he seems to be living up to the projection #mexico #MEXvGER #Lozano #GERMEX #queersaroundtheworld
— Commissioner Stormborn (@polynosebest) June 17, 2018
What a cracking end to end game #GERMEX was. Loved Mexico's counter attacking.
— david middleton (@kingscrossexile) June 17, 2018
Low's end formation of 2-2-6 today looked even crazier than the one he finished Euro 2016 semi with when he had four centre forwards on at once. #GERMEX #WorldCup2018
— MyFootballOpinion (@NeverBeenSacked) June 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/SotirisNteris/status/1008485501525995520
Already this #GERMEX is looking the part!! Exciting!! Interesting Germany getting the boos heavy right now!
— UnitedsBadGuy 🔰 (@RocBoiJJ) June 17, 2018
The best part of the match was at the last minute when the goalkeeper came on the ground as a forward! #FifaWorldCup2018 #GERvsMEX #germex
— Jay Mamtora (@beingenthusiast) June 17, 2018
I think we saw exactly what is the problem and what is so right with the @FIFAWorldCup. Big teams play not to lose, underdogs play with NOTHING to lose #GERMEX well done #Mexico for showing us all how football should be played.
— Scottie Talks Sports (@scottiesports) June 17, 2018
To day Mexico beat Germany
0-1
This quote really appiles to Mexico
"When life gives you lemons,Make Grape Juice and leave the world wondering how you did it".
I am really proud to say am Mexican.#WorldCup2018 #Germex #GermanyvsMexico— ꧁ Painted꧂ (@ironblood555) June 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/jonty_spitfire/status/1008487719855509506
https://twitter.com/Kin9_DERP/status/1008487236537606144
Half of y’all didn’t think Mexico had a chance against Germany. Dont hop on the Mexico bandwagon now😴 #GermanyvsMexico
— Daniel Gonzalez (@dangzz7) June 17, 2018
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This team is the breath of fresh air this World Cup has been crying out for. Thank Christ for Mexico. #GermanyvsMexico
— The Irish Guy (@the_irishguy) June 17, 2018
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What a save! #GermanyvsMexico #WORLDCUP #Ochoa pic.twitter.com/OD4CDLoDBl
— Denis McDermott (@DisforDenis) June 17, 2018
