The minor trend of defending champions at the World Cup continues. At the 2018 World Cup, it happened to the German national team.
Germany lost 0-1 to Mexico in the first match of Group D 2018 World Cup at Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday (17/06/2018). Goal Hirving Lozano (35 ') became the cause of the 2014 world champion was subdued.
The defeat has made Germany the same fate as Italy at the 2010 World Cup and Spain in the 2014 World Cup. The two teams are equally unconventional in the first game in a bid to defend the title.
Italy as world champion in 2006, a 1-1 draw against Paraguay in 2010. As for Spain, 2010 world champion, lost 1-5 in the first match of the 2014 World Cup from the Netherlands.
In this fight, Germany actually appear to dominate with. In terms of opportunities, the team nicknamed Tim Panzer has 17 times the experiment, with eight of them on target.
In the first half, Mexico appeared brave enough to serve open game from Germany. The result, in the 35th minute, Germany is too cool attacked surprise Mexican counterattack.
Through a counterattack scheme, Hirving Lozano who received feedback Javier Hernandez managed to fool Joshua Kimmich. He then manipulates Manuel Neuer with a right-foot shot.
Score 1-0 to Mexico's advantage lasted until halftime.
In the second half, Mexico played more defensively. In the 58th minute, attacking midfielder Carlos Vela was replaced by defender Edson Alvarez and turned the formation into five defenders.
Knowing Mexico will be more defensive, Germany put Marco Reus to replace Sami Khedira in the 60th minute.
After these two turns, Germany forced Mexico to play its own defense territory.
All the way Germany has done to score a counterweight. Attacks from both wings and long-range shot attempts still can not penetrate the Mexican defense that accumulates almost all players in the back line.
The match ended with a 1-0 win over Mexico.