BEN MEMULETIWON
Mexico has proved bookmakers wrong as they recorded an epic and first shock win of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It was a huge result for Mexico and a scoreline that will rock the World Cup. Hirving Lozano’s 35th minute goal proved to be the difference.
It really was a crown in the effort of the Mexicans whose performance at the match was superb. Reigning champion Germany simply couldn’t cope with the counter-attacks and didn’t really create enough to break through a resilient defensive line.
Dangerous on the break, Mexico took the lead when PSV Eindhoven’s Lozano cut inside Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil before firing low past Manuel Neuer.
Germany went close through Toni Kroos, whose free-kick was pushed on to the bar by Guillermo Ochoa. Joshua Kimmich and Timo Werner also had good chances for Joachim Low’s side.
The result means Germany is the third champion in succession – following Italy (2010) and Spain (2014) – to start the defence with a defeat.
History was also made when Mexico’s 39-year-old former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez came on in the second half to become the third player to have played in five successive World Cups. The other two players are Germany’s Lothar Matthaus and Marquez’s compatriot Antonio Carbajal.
Mexico has advanced to the knock-out stages of the World Cup in each of the last six tournaments and are now in the driving seat after this result.
As for Germany, it would have to improve for its games against Sweden and South Korea. But the reigning king will be wary of the fact that the last two defending champions exited the competition at the group stage. Will Germany allow history to be repeated?
