MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 19

GROUP F MP W D L GF GA +/- PTS Mexico stuns champs Mexico 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 Sweden 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 S Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 takes Mexico past luckless Germany Sunday June 17 GERMANY 0 1 MEXICO Germany 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0 - Lozano 35’ AFP | Moscow Group F Sunday June 17 GERMANYReferee0 1 MEXICO factbox Alireza FaghaniHirving (IRN) Lozano (35’) efending champions Moscow - Luzhniki Stadium Lozano•35’ It was only the second Germany crashed to the Players PossessionGroup F defeatPlayers in an opening match first defeat in their open- Referee at the World Cup finals D 1 Neuer (cap) Alireza Faghani (IRN) 13 Ochoa ing game of a World Cup since 2 Plattenhardt 79’ 2 Ayalafor Germany (and West 1982 as Hirving Lozano’s clinical 5 Hummels Players 61% Possession39% 3 SalcedoGermanyPlayers until 1994). The finish earned Mexico a shock 1-0 6 Khedira1 Neuer (cap) 60’ 137 LayunOchoafirst came against Algeria victory yesterday. 7 Draxler2 Plattenhardt 79’ 112 VelaAyalain 1982 - when the58’ Germans 8 Kroos 14 Hernandez 5 Hummels 61% 39% 3 Salcedostill managed to reach the The highly-rated PSV Ein- 9 Werner6 Khedira 86’ 60’ 25 Shots 12 157 MorenoLayun dhoven forward struck the 10 Özil 7 Draxler 1611 HerreraVelafinal 58’ winner on 35 minutes after a 13 Müller8 Kroos 9 On target 4 1814 GuardadoHernandez• After (cap) a draw74’ with blistering counter-attack at the 17 Boateng9 Werner 86’ 25 Shots 12 2215 LozanoMorenoUruguay in 1986,66’ Germany 18 Kimmich10 Özil 10 Fouls 15 2316 GallardoHerrerahad won their opening game Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow as 13 Müller 9 On target 4 18 Guardado (cap) 74’ Mexico beat Germany for just 11 Reus17 Boateng 60’ (cap) = Captain Yellow card 2122 AlvarezLozanoin each of the 66’last58’ seven 10 Fouls 15 the second time in history. 23 Gomez18 Kimmich 79’ Substitution Red card 239 JimenezGallardoWorld Cups 66’ 20 Brandt 86’ 4 Marquez• Germany had74’ won Germany’s preparations for 11 Reus 60’ fingertips(cap) = Captain of a scramblingYellow cardOchoa 21 Alvarez 58’ 23 Gomez 79’ Source: FIFASubstitution Red card 9 Jimenezevery one of their66’ previous the tournament were plagued 20 Brandt 86’ to keep it out, but Mexico barely 4 Marqueztournament openers74’ at by poor results and controversy, clungSource: on FIFA to their advantage. European Championships and their problems were magni- Marco Reus was introduced and World Cups since fied in the Russian capital, leav- on the hour as Loew sought Joachim Loew took over as ing their proud record of never to invigorate a struggling coach in 2006 being eliminated in the group side, while 39-year-old Rafael • Germany had scored 20 stage of a World Cup already in Marquez became just the third goals in their previous four danger. player to feature at five World opening matches at World Joachim Loew started eight of Mexico’s Hirving Lozano celebrates scoring their first goal with Andres Guardado Cups as he was brought on the Cups the nine 2014 World Cup win- tighten Mexico’s defence. ners in his squad, with Mesut A remarkably open start saw tacked the Germany backline were again sliced apart. Joshua Kimmich’s acrobatic Ozil returning from a knee in- Timo Werner sprint in be - with regularity. After Sami Khedira lost pos- overhead kick looped onto the jury and Manuel Neuer back in hind the Mexico defence be - nearly diverted session, Javier Hernandez trig- roof of the net, with substitute goal following his lengthy ab- fore dragging across the face of a teasing cross into his own net, gered a lightning counter before Edson Alvarez then blocking sence for the Group F clash. goal, while shot while Timo Werner hit tamely at finding a charging Lozano, who bravely to thwart Draxler. Jerome Boateng’s build-up to straight at af- Ochoa when an umarked Julian cut inside a covering Ozil and Reus also hammered a vol - the finals was also hampered by ter a botched clearance. Draxler appeared better option. lashed low inside Neuer’s near ley over from a narrow angle a groin injury, but the Bayern Neuer held well twice in quick Mexico continued to threaten, post to spark deafening roars before a frenetic finale saw Ju- Munich centre-back was on the succession, first from a long- Miguel Layun narrowly unable from sizeable Mexico support. lian Brandt, just on for Werner, alert inside 60 seconds to thrust range Hector Herrera strike and to latch onto a through ball, but Germany hit back, Toni Kroos smack the outside of the post himself desperately in front of a then again to keep out Hector their goal arrived 10 minutes rattling the crossbar with a 25- with a thunderous effort from Lozano effort. Moreno’s header, as Mexico at- before the break as Germany yard free-kick that needed the 20 yards. Mexico deserved the win. Our cover was often not good and we Captain fires Serbia to victory were left many times with just Reuters | Samara, Russia ground until Kolarov made the tory delivered a potentially vi- Costa Rica 0 - 1 Serbia Jerome (Boateng) breakthrough in the 56th min- tal three points for Serbia and Aleksandar Kolarov (56’) I don’t know if it’s leksandar Kolarov pro - ute. left Costa Rica in a precarious the biggest win in and myself in the Aduced a moment of cap - With Brazil heavy favourites position. had a header scooped off the (Mexico’s) history back. We were tain’s inspiration, curling home to win the group, which also After a furious start in which line and Costa Rica’s Giancar- but doubtless it is warned days ago a superb free kick as Serbia got features Switzerland, the vic- Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic lo Gonzalez failed to convert one of the biggest (in the warm-up their World Cup Group E cam- two headed chances, the match games) paign up and running with a settled into a more predictable for sure GERMAN DEFENDER MATS 1-0 victory over Costa Rica yes- pattern. MEXICO’S HIRVING LOZANO HUMMELS terday. Serbia bossed the ball as their With Costa Rica proving a enterprising midfield, fusing tough nut to crack, Kolarov the experience of Manchester stepped up to bury a 25-metre United enforcer Nemanja Matic WORLD CUP PREDICT AND WIN effort from wide on the right, and the raw talent of Sergej Mil- lighting up an otherwise tight inkovic-Savic, got on top. Football is unpredictable! Of the three matches yes- game in the southern Russian The Lazio playmaker was Ser- terday, only three readers could predict at least two city of Samara. bia’s most creative influence, al- correct answers. And the lucky winner is Serbia had dominated against though his blushes were spared a Costa Rica side who had rarely by the linesman’s flag when he Hubert Satheesh threatened after a bright start, fluffed a first-half chance after but chances were thin on the Serbia’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic attempts an overhead kick racing through on goal. Winner will be contacted

DAY 5, 18th JUNE 2018

SWEDEN SOUTH KOREA DRAW

BELGIUM PANAMA DRAW

TUNISIA ENGLAND DRAW

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