Mexico quakes with joy over Germany upset

Nation erupts in celebration of El Tri’s conquest of defending champion

MEXICO CITY — Tens of thousands of jubilant Mexicans partied in the streets of the capital on Sunday after their team’s 1-0 victory over World Cup holder Germany — singing, dancing, blaring car horns and cheering El Tri.

The earth literally moved in quake-prone Mexico City when 22-year-old PSV Eindhoven winger Hirving “Chucky” Lozano smashed home the game-winning goal in the 35th minute at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium — igniting a soccer “earthquake of joy”.

Seismologists said they had detected an “artificial” rumbling, possibly caused by “widespread jumping” when the goal was scored.

Thousands of fans crammed into the Zocalo, the city’s main square, to celebrate.

“What happened today was an earthquake of joy for us — just imagine, we beat the world champions!” said Laura Villegas, a 45-year-old merchant.

“What happened hey, what happened hey, to the Germany that was going to beat us today?” the crowd chanted.

President Enrique Pena Nieto joined the party, saying on Twitter: “Confirmed: Mexico competes and wins against the best in the world, Congratulations to @miseleccionmx! Great match!”

Victory rallies erupted in other major cities such as Guadalajara, Toluca, Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez.

‘Lozano for president’

Throughout the capital, the streets filled with exhilarated fans, on foot, bicycles, motorbikes and in cars. Some blasted their car stereos while others shrieked in glee.

Amid the cacophonous bustle, a veteran violinist played the traditional tune

— roughly translated as “Lovely Sweet One”.

The victory was a heartstopping one, but “a small goal is still a goal”, said the musician, while fans dropped coins in his instrument case.

One female fan, a flag in her hand and the national colors painted on her cheeks, screamed: “We are an Aztec warrior force!”

“Lozano for president, Lozano for president!” fans cheered — not forgetting that the country will hold elections to choose a new leader on July 1.

Ana Maria Contreras, a school teacher, came with her children and even dogs decked out in El Tri’s signature green jerseys to join the festivities.

“We have shown that we can compete with any power. And I hope that whoever wins as president also knows how to lead us to victory,” she said.

Loew shocked

While Germany didn’t play the way it usually plays, coach Joachim Loew isn’t sure why.

Stymied by Mexico’s skilful forwards and speedy counterattacks, the defending World Cup champion played a sloppy first half, gave up too many chances and ultimately conceded a goal that held up until the final whistle.

“We looked nervous and we were not able to play the way we wanted to play,” Loew said. “We will have to analyze why it was the case.”

Germany is now in an unfamiliar position. The squad had not lost a World Cup opener since 1982 and won its four previous initial matches by a combined score of 20-2.

For a defending World Cup champion, however, the situation is more common.

Three of the past four have failed to make it out of the group stage.

Reminded of that statistic, Loew offered a solemn guarantee.

“We will not suffer that fate,” he declared. “We will make it to the next round.”

Germany’s path through Group F includes a match against Sweden on Saturday before it faces South Korea on June 27.