Mexico stuns Germany in World Cup boilover

REIGNING World Cup champion Germany has been left red-faced after a nightmare start to the team’s title defence.

Timo Werner couldn’t believe it.

GERMANY became the third defending champion in the last 16 years to lose its opening match at the World Cup, falling to Mexico 1-0 on Monday morning (AEST).

Hirving Lozano scored the lone goal in the 35th minute, picking up Javier Hernandez’s pass inside the penalty area and beating Mesut Ozil before shooting past Manuel Neuer from 10 yards.

“I don’t know if it’s the biggest victory in (Mexico’s) history, but one of the biggest for sure,” Lozano said. “It’s great to start on the right foot when you are playing the world champions.”

Germany coach Joachim Loew did not mince his words, saying: “We played very badly.”

France in 2002 and Spain in 2014 were the other defending champions to lose their opening matches. Neither of those teams advanced from the group stage.

Unsurprisingly, the result stunned the world.

English football great Gary Lineker tweeted: “Now is the time for a Mexican wave. F***ing brilliant.”

Even American rapper/actor Ice Cube got in on the action.

Mexico 1 - Germany 0 ⚽️ Tequila shots on me !!!

— Ice Cube (@icecube) June 17, 2018

Knocked out in the round of 16 in the last six World Cups. If ever there was a time for Mexico to break their spell, this is it. Excellent display - well organised and then pacy and fluid on the break. Should have had a few more. Germans looked so sluggish. #GERMEX

— Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) June 17, 2018

Wow Germany losing is nuts

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 17, 2018

Mexico is building a wall and so far Germany is paying for it.

— Mitchell Prothero (@mitchprothero) June 17, 2018

1998: France win World Cup
2002: France fail to make it out of the group stages

2006: Italy win World Cup
2010: Italy fail to make it out of the group stages

2010: Spain win World Cup
2014: Spain fail to make it out of the group stages

2014: Germany win World Cup
2018: 👀 pic.twitter.com/7YVdcQhtAn

— bet365 (@bet365) June 17, 2018

After Lozano’s goal, Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa pulled off a spectacular save to keep the score even, palming Toni Kroos’ shot onto the crossbar. The Germans are bidding to become the first team to retain the World Cup title since Brazil in 1962. They hadn’t lost an opening game since the then-West Germany succumbed 2-1 to Algeria in 1982.

Mexico supporters outnumbered Germany fans at the Luzhniki Stadium and made almost all of the noise, roaring their team forward.

Lozano, a 22-year-old forward from the Dutch league nicknamed “Chucky”, got Mexico going with a deflected shot over the bar in the first minute. That set the tone for Mexico to torment Germany on the counter-attack, with Lozano taking full advantage of right back Joshua Kimmich’s tendency to go forward.

In his first competitive start since September 16 because of injury, Neuer was kept busy saving a stinging long shot from Hector Herrera in the 10th minute, then a header shortly after a free kick.

Timo Werner could have scored when he picked up a ball near the penalty spot, but his shot went straight to Ochoa.

Mexican fans went wild.

With key players tiring in the second half, Mexico pulled back and substituted both Lozano and Carlos Vela. Germany then dominated but when it broke through the Mexican defence, the shooting was poor.

Seeking defensive reinforcement, Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio brought on 39-year-old veteran Rafael Marquez to play in his fifth World Cup.

Germany registered 25 shots to Mexico’s 12, but many were from long range and failed to seriously test Ochoa.

Germany needs points from matches against Sweden and South Korea on June 27 to avoid elimination.

Mexico’s next opponent is South Korea.

Originally published as Mexico stuns Germany in World Cup boilover