FIFA World Cup 2018: Defending champions Germany lose opener to Mexico
Holding the Americas flag high, Mexico on Sunday upset the applecart of the defending champions Germany by defeating the pre-tournament favourite European team by a solitary first half goal in FIFA World Cup 2018.
It was not only a defeat of the defending champions but also the first major setback for any fancied European outfit. And Mexico's shock triumph over slightly unlucky Germany, was also in continuation of the similar fete being met by two other former defending champions, Italy and Spain. Intriguingly, the winners of last three World Cups lost their openers in the subsequent World Cup preliminaries.
Earlier, in the first game of the fourth day, Serbia had held aloft the European flag by defeating Costa Rica of Central America by a solitary second half goal. But Mexico brought to halt the progress of Europeans.
And the hero of Mexico's win was "Chucky", the fleet footed winger who plays on the left flank.
Mexico, full of energy, swarming and pressurising Germany for most of the time in the first half, were successful in what a respected critic called "absolute battering" of Germans.
Though in the second half, Germans were all over the rivals citadel but they were unlucky to see their efforts either hitting the Mexican wall or missing the target narrowly. Once it hit the cross piece while on the other it hit a goalpost and went out.
Lozano - Chucky - had picked a ball from a foiled German attack in the 35th minute and came back with astonishing speed, and fired the salvo that decided the match.
Midway in the second half, the pro of the game, Lozano, was substituted, By that time he had done his job and saw his team getting full three points.
