GIANT Chucky makes it a horror story for world champs

CHUCKY made Child’s Play of dispatching World Cup holders Germany.

Mexico’s match-winner Hirving Lozano gets his nicknamed from his resemblance to the horror movie’s scary-looking doll.

And the PSV Eindhoven striker clearly had not read the script when he grabbed the goal which stunned the world champions and ended their run of seven straight wins in World

Cup openers.

As shocks against holders go, this was up there with Cameroon’s win over Argentina in 1990 and France’s defeat by Senegal in 2002.

Germany, No.1 in the FIFA rankings, had no answer to Mexico’s first-half ebullience and second-half resilience, when they were forced for most of that period to defend their slender lead until the final whistle.

West Ham striker Javier Hernandez, who played a key role in the goal, was in tears at the end when Mexico celebrated a win that throws Group F wide open.

Juan Carlos Osorio’s men refused to be overawed by their opponents, playing with a verve and assurance that rattled the four-time winners and ultimately won them the game.

Despite dominating after the break, Germany were far from convincing and must beat Sweden on Saturday to get their campaign back on track.

Their famed defensive efficiency deserted them throughout a thrilling contest, while going forward they lacked the cutting edge required to break Mexico’s stubborn resistance. The likes of Mesut Ozil and Julian Draxler went AWOL, while boss Joachim Loew’s decision not to take Manchester City winger Leroy Sane to Russia now looks even more absurd.

Mexico got in behind Germany several times in a pulsating firsthalf, only for their composure to desert them when afforded a sight of goal.

But Loew’s men did not heed those warnings and paid the price in the 35th minute to another stunning Mexico counter-attack at breakneck speed.

Mats Hummels dived in on Hernandez, whose mind and feet were too quick for the veteran defender, the forward laying the ball off to Lozano before surging goalwards.

With the Germany defence exposed, Lozano and Hernandez exchanged passes, and Lozano cut inside to bury a low shot inside Manuel Neuer’s near post.

The noise inside the Luzhniki Stadium was deafening as Mexico fans went wild. Three minutes later Germany almost levelled when a Tony

Kroos free-kick was tipped on to the bar by keeper Guillermo Ochoa.

It was a familiar story in the second half. Germany dominated possession but did not do enough with the ball, while Mexico were happy to soak up the pressure and try to hit on the break.

The holders continued to probe, but with little conviction, and Mexico held out for a deserved win that makes Germany’s path to the last 16 more complicated than they may have anticipated.