El Tri shock Germany
World Cup holders ‘under pressure’ after Mexico defeat
MEXICO stunned title holders Germany 1-0 yesterday in the first real shock at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, largely thanks to a spirited first-half display.
Hirving Lozano fired the winner in the 35th minute and Germany were unable to come back after the break, lacking the flowing game that gave them the 2014 title in a performance which exposed weaknesses in all areas.
Mexico could have scored more while Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos was denied by the crossbar and with a curling shot as the game confirmed below-par showings in the buildup.
“It’s the best goal I have scored in my entire life,” man-of-the-match Lozano said.
“I don’t know if its biggest [Mexican] win in history but it is right up there. It’s great to start on the right foot against the reigning world champions.”
Joachim Low’s champions lost for only the second time in a World Cup opener, the other being 2-1 to Algeria in 1982.
“We were losing balls, sometimes too easily, and didn’t make use of the full space,” Low said. “We have to accept it and learn our lessons and do things better in the next game.”
Germany face Sweden on June 23 and four days later meet South Korea as they try to avoid becoming the fourth title holder in the last five World Cups to not survive the group stage, the others being France in 2002, Italy in 2010 and Spain in 2014. But Low insisted: “It won’t happen to us. We will make it.”
Kroos said: “We are now under pressure without a doubt. We definitely need to get six points from the next two games after you lose the first game.”
El Tri meanwhile delighted in their first victory over Germany in the sixth attempt at a major championship as they were awarded for a courageous performance in front of 78,011 fans at the Luzhniki where their large fan contingent was in ecstasy.
“This is a milestone for Mexican football,” coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. “The team played for the love of winning and not the fear of losing. We played with bravery when needed and defended with heart when needed.”
Low had to make one change to the planned line-up as Cologne leftback Jonas Hector was sidelined with a cold, and replaced by Hertha Berlin’s Marvin Plattenhardt.
Osorio had insisted they would show no fear, and El Tri started in exactly that fashion, with Lozano only denied a first-minute goal by a desperate lunge from Jerome Boateng. And although Timo Werner aimed wide left on the other end, Mexico denied Germany’s midfield with Kroos, Sami Khedira and playmaker Mesut Oezil from dominating, and tormented the defence from the past-paced Lozano, Carlos Vela and Javier Hernandez.
Germany’s nervousness showed when the experienced Boateng was caught out for a wrong throw-in and Khedira played a sloppy pass in his own penalty area.
The well-deserved lead came in the 35th. Germany lost the ball yet again in midfield from Mats Hummels and after a few quick passes the ball came from Hernandez to PSV Eindhoven’s Lozano who rounded a clumsy Oezil and fired into the bottom of the near left corner.
The goal further rattled the Germans who nonetheless almost got an equaliser i n the 38th but goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa managed to keep Kroos’ freekick out with some help from the crossbar.
There were no changes at the break but the Germans finally tried to attack with a little more purpose while at the same time not exposing the back line as earlier on.
However, that didn’t work in the 57th though a sloppy pass from Hernandez to the brilliant Carlos Vela denied the Mexicans a second.
Vela then came off, and Lozano followed a little later as Mexico started to defend deeper to protect the precious advantage while the Germans brought the skillful Marco Reus for more attacking power.
But Joshua Kimmich’s overhead kick landed on the roof of the net, Werner smashed over the bar while Kroos’ curling shot and a last-gasp effort from sub Julian Brandt also went wide.
Mexico held out as even Neuer came forward in the end, and 39-yearold veteran Rafael Marquez came on with 10 minutes left to play at a recordequalling fifth World Cup.
“We have to anaylse it, this wasn’t planned. We knew we need more stability. It was unusual nerves,” Low said
“We have to do our home work and prepare everything to do things better.” – dpa