This was the fourth time Germany and Mexico will be meeting at the World Cup with the ‘Die Mannschaft’ having the edge both in past wins and as defending champions. The match was fast-paced and evenly played by both teams. In the 35′ minute, Hirving Lozano made the impossible happen by scoring the only goal of the match through an assist from Javier Hernandez (Chicharito). Lozano was Mexico’s top scorer during the qualifiers for the World Cup.
The Germans made some tactical substitutions and kept pressing on finding an equaliser that never materialised. The last substitution for Mexico saw the introduction of Rafael Marquez who made his fifth World Cup appearance (2002-2018) equalling the record of Antonio Carbajal (1950-66) and Lothar Matthäus (1982-98). This is the third successive World Cup in which a defending champion has failed to win its opening fixture. Italy drew 1 – 1 with Paraguay in 2010 and Spain was drubbed by Holland 5 -1 in 2014.
