Thursday, May 21, 2026
Freedom Online
  • Home
  • News
    • Foreign
    • Crime
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Interview
  • Sports
  • Ad Rates
No Result
View All Result
Freedom Online
  • Home
  • News
    • Foreign
    • Crime
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Interview
  • Sports
  • Ad Rates
No Result
View All Result
Freedom Online
No Result
View All Result

World Cup: Mexico stun Germany 1-0, Brazil held to 1-1 by Switzerland

Freedom Reporter by Freedom Reporter
June 17, 2018
in Breaking News, News, Sports
0
brazil, switzerland, germany, mexico

Defending champions Germany crashed to defeat in their first game at the World Cup on Sunday as an enterprising Mexico refused to be intimidated and came away 1-0 winners.
A shaky warm-up campaign had called into question the dominant form the Germans showed in qualifying, but experience and records were on their side.
This is because they have won every opening game at major tournaments since Joachim Low took over as coach in 2006.
But Juan Osorio’s Mexican side had other ideas, however, holding their own against the favourites’ fearsome but slowing midfield and finding space at the back.
They needed this, because they were seeking to end 33 years without a win against Germany.
After wasting a handful of first-half chances while living dangerously in their own half in the thrill-packed Group F opener, Hirving Lozano’s 35th-minute strike on the break proved just reward.
When German centre back Mats Hummels lost possession deep in the Mexican half, Javier Hernandez was released through the middle to outpace Jerome Boateng.
With a less than perfect pass he found Lozano, who controlled the ball, cut inside Mesut Ozil, held off a charging Toni Kroos and slotted coolly past Manuel Neuer.
At the other end, Guillermo Ochoa tipped a blistering Kroos free kick on to the bar minutes later, in what was to prove the Germans’ closest effort of the match.
The match in Moscow was one in which the Germans had more than 60 percent possession, but they could not make it count.
Germany pressed in the second half but struggled to find the target, as Osorio beefed up his defences to hang on.
He removed Lozano with 15 minutes left and sent on 39-year-old Rafael Marquez at the back to become the third man ever to play in five World Cups.
Low threw on Marco Reus in place of Sami Khedira and, with 10 minutes to go, switched left-back Marvin Plattenhardt for a second striker, Mario Gomez, to reinforce Timo Werner.
Werner had failed to make much of a mark in the German spearhead.
Mexico had much of the 80,000 crowd in Luzhniki Stadium on its feet as the Germans left ever greater gaps at the back.
The wastefulness notably of Hernandez on the final pass may reassure future opponents that Mexico, while determined to end a Cinderella reputation, have not replaced Germany as favourites.
Youngster Julian Brandt nearly saved Low’s night after taking over from Werner in the final minutes when he blasted a shot past Ochoa’s right post.
Goalkeeper Neuer even came up for a corner kick in injury time.
But it was not to be.
Mexico can dream of going better than a consistent record of reaching the last 16 of the last six World Cups.
They can even think perhaps of improving on the quarter-final they last reached in 1986.
“They are the best team in the world,” goalscorer Lozano said, describing his strike as “the best goal of my life”.
The Germans now face Sweden and South Korea and should still qualify from Group F.
But their reputation is not what it was.
“We are now under pressure. We have to get six points from the next games,” Kroos said. “We did not do well. We had our chances but didn’t score.”
Meanwhile, a second half header from Steven Zuber cancelled out a sensational early goal from Philippe Coutinho as Switzerland and Brazil drew 1-1 in a tight Group E World Cup opener on Sunday.
With 20 minutes gone, Coutinho gathered a 25-yard clearance from goal and curled a shot into the far corner off the post to give the five-time world champions the lead.
However, Switzerland, who had looked toothless throughout the first half, got back on level terms five minutes into the second half.
Zuber rose unmarked to head home a corner kick.
Coutinho had Brazil’s best chance after the break but shot wide.
The result means that Serbia lead Group E after beating Costa Rica 1-0 earlier in the day.

Previous Post

Boko Haram female bombers kill 32, injure 84 in Borno

Next Post

Presidential primary: PDP guidelines not ready, says Organising Secretary

Next Post
pdp

Presidential primary: PDP guidelines not ready, says Organising Secretary

Electricity generation to national grid drops by 1,087.6MW

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

https://freedomonline.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/VID-20260408-WA0025.mp4
https://freedomonline.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/5aeac180-db4e-4e7c-bd37-07ddbf15b053.mp4

Popular Stories

Plugin Install : Popular Post Widget need JNews - View Counter to be installed

Latest Stories

11 soldiers killed in Benue

Attahiru: Remembering a patriot five years on – Niran Adedokun

May 21, 2026

14.4% of Nigerian Youths Aged 10–29 Engage in Drug Abuse – LASUED Professor

May 21, 2026

NEMA Flags 11 Niger LGAs as High-Risk Flood Zones for 2026 Rainy Season

May 21, 2026

NDLEA Launches Clean Beat 91.5FM to Promote Anti-Drug Awareness

May 21, 2026

NNPP Accuses INEC of Delaying Primaries, Hints at Protest in Abuja

May 21, 2026

Labour Party Reschedules All Primaries to May 30 Following Eid-el Kabir

May 21, 2026
Prof Segun Aina

Tinubu appoints 39-year-old Prof as JAMB Registrar

May 21, 2026
Freedom Online

© 2026 Published by SWAAYA LIMITED, Plot 20, Block G, Scheme 1, Residential 3, OPIC Beachland Estate, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, Lagos. Gabriel Akinadewo, MD/CEO 08023010222, 08094000056, 08052097814.

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Interview
  • Sports
  • Ad Rates

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • #13921 (no title)
  • Advert Rates
  • APC ad
  • Archive Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Contact Us
  • Documents
  • Full Width
  • Homepage
  • Ogun State
  • Ogun State banner ad
  • P-A
  • P-A2
  • Privacy policy
  • Sample Page
  • Sample Page
  • Submit an article
  • Welcome

© 2026 Published by SWAAYA LIMITED, Plot 20, Block G, Scheme 1, Residential 3, OPIC Beachland Estate, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, Lagos. Gabriel Akinadewo, MD/CEO 08023010222, 08094000056, 08052097814.