Mexican victory jolts Germans

GERMANY’S media reacted with concern and worry after the World Cup holder’s shock 1-0 loss to Mexico.

Hirving Lozano hit the winning goal after 35 minutes in Moscow when the German defence was caught napping.

It was the first time Germany had lost an opening game at a World Cup finals since going down 2-1 to Algeria in Spain in 1982.

Top-selling German daily Bild declared on its website: “Embarrassing performance against Mexico: this crash causes us World Cup worry”.

Munich-based newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung agreed, saying: “There are reasons to worry” over a picture of the dejected German team, which needs to beat Sweden and South Korea to be sure of going through.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper went for “Fiesta Mexicana: False start for Germany”. STEP aside, Cristiano Ronaldo. Serbia and Costa Rica looked likely for a stalemate in Samara, until Aleksandar Kolarov stepped up. The former Manchester City set-piece genius earned his nation all three points with a venomous free kick on 58 minutes. REMEMBER the name Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

The 23-year-old Serb is being chased by the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, and against Costa Rica showed why, producing a masterful performance in midfield. NEYMAR’S long-awaited return to the World Cup set a record — he was the most fouled player for 20 years.

In 2014 in his home country, he left the World Cup in agony after being on the receiving end of some violent defending.

Now on his return, after four months out with another injury, he was fortunate to emerge unscathed.

The striker looked rusty in Brazil’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Switzerland, in only his second start since breaking a bone in his foot in February.

Neymar was fouled 10 times, the most for any player at the cup since England’s Alan Shearer suffered 11 fouls at the hands of Tunisia at France ’98.