It's always satisfying to beat a defending champ, and on Sunday it was Mexico's turn, as it stunned Germany 1-0 in the 2018 World Cup tournament on a first-half goal by Hirving Lozano.
Wow! #MEX stun the #WorldCup champions in Moscow! #GERMEX 0-1 pic.twitter.com/XOtAWcKD8U
— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17, 2018
Incredible.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 17, 2018
Mexico upsets Germany. pic.twitter.com/9CDEWIAaoA
#GERMEX | 0-1 | FT
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) June 17, 2018
First match. First win!! These 3️⃣ points are ours!!!!!!!!!!
Fantastic all-around performance by the team in Moscow!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻#NadaNosDetiene | #WorldCup | #MEX pic.twitter.com/GKaIKmNZM2
Our #WorldCup campaign begins with defeat 😔
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) June 17, 2018
Well played, @miseleccionmxEN 👏#DieMannschaft #ZSMMN #GERMEX 0-1 pic.twitter.com/l0C7HQMAQm
The victory shocked many: Germany has won its opening game in the last seven World Cups.
Mexican fans, and there were many new ones after this game, were quick to celebrate on social media. Doggone it, there were a lot of jokes involving tiny Chihuahas, a national symbol of Mexico, beating up larger, tougher German Shepherds.
If you missed the Germany vs. Mexico game, then here's a quick recap. #WorldCup #GERMEX pic.twitter.com/bqhugS33ea
— Michael Gravesande (@OldBlackHack) June 17, 2018
https://t.co/XxxqAAFNpC they bowl is the net #Mex #GER
— Sebastian Moya 🇵🇸 🇭🇳 (@SebastianMoya14) June 17, 2018
#MEX #GER #rusia2018 #NadaNosDetiene pic.twitter.com/7wFx2YSuJk
— Alejanndro Vera (@VeraAlejanndro) June 17, 2018
— Mexican Son (@tenochcason) June 17, 2018
German newspaper :"Sorry Mexico,
— Rigel (@barcazealot) June 17, 2018
Today WE build the wall."
Guess Karma's a bitch. #GERMEX pic.twitter.com/ST4P8qmwGp
#GERMEX
— Sneha singh (@sneha_si) June 17, 2018
how Germany came into the game VS how they are played pic.twitter.com/YcnvEH8WbS
If Mexico were even moderately competent at counter-attacking this would be 4-0.
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) June 17, 2018
I’m in Wisconsin, with tears streaming down my eyes. I’m so proud de mi Mexico! ???????? #VivaMexico
— Maria Mad (@Maria_Madrigal) June 17, 2018
In Sunday's early game, Serbia beat Costa Rica 1-0. This game didn't involve the defending champs going down, and it earned a lot less social-media attention.
The most perfect freekick by the Serbian captain.
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) June 17, 2018
Costa Rica 0-1 Serbia
#CRCSRB #OptusSport #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/dOikOdI984
My son (4 days old) just told me he wants Costa Rica to win as he still hasn’t forgiven Serbia for the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.
— Rhys 🏴 (@WoolyBully69) June 17, 2018
Highlight of the Costa Rica v Serbia World Cup match so far. pic.twitter.com/0vPE2VkY8x
— Simon Zohhadi MCIOB (@Simon_Zohhadi) June 17, 2018
By the way, if you weren’t up early in the USA to watch Serbia, or have never seen Sergei Milinković-Savić, catch him next time. Think we’re looking at player who could very soon be one of the world’s finest.
— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) June 17, 2018
Just saw Serbia win a World Cup game live in the flesh. I quit. Goodbye. Xoxoxox
— VUJ (@DavidVujanic) June 17, 2018
In the day's final game, World Cup powerhouse Brazil and superstar Neymar took on Switzerland. The game ended in a 1-1 tie, disappointing Brazilian fans who always count on their team to win.
FT | Honours even in Rostov-on-Don! #BRAESP pic.twitter.com/J6MRKkJm27
— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17, 2018
But Neymar's hair didn't disappoint. Fans compared it to everything from the coif of the late George Michael of Wham to a cup of noodles.
I quite like Neymar's new hair. Shades of Careless Whisper era George Michael. Or Essex now pic.twitter.com/bPJ6bdim4I
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) June 17, 2018
That reminds me, I need to stock up on Super Noodles.
— Ste (@mufcstemanc) June 17, 2018
Yo Ney. Sun-In innit?
— Ped (@_iPed) June 17, 2018
Neymar seems to have made a last-minute revision to his entry in Worst Brazilian Superstar World Cup Haircut sweepstakes; sadly still fails to match Ronaldo’s record-setting 2002 effort pic.twitter.com/aKlxLZG8pT
— Robert Mackey (@RobertMackey) June 17, 2018
It's been worse. There were a lot of really mediocre players in the early ’80s with very, very bad mullets. If your touch with the feet is beautiful, you can get away with a criminal hairdo on top.
— Matt Seaton (@mattseaton) June 17, 2018
The game produced controversy over the new video assistant referee system, introduced for the first time this World Cup.
Brazilians claim a push on Miranda but ref and VAR say NO as ZUBER produces EXACTLY the kind of goal you expect Brazil to concede 53mins #bra 1-1 #sui #worldcup... but there WAS a push!
— Neal Collins (@nealcol) June 17, 2018
If VAR can't spot clear Zuber push on Miranda, what's it for? #bra 1-1 #sui 60mins #worldcup, only one team going for the winner...
— Neal Collins (@nealcol) June 17, 2018
One of the most annoying things about VAR is that it invites debate over minor incidents that would never otherwise be questioned
— Tom McGowan (@tompmcgowan) June 17, 2018
But when a giant red balloon landed in front of Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker (known as simply Alisson), he gave it a winning stomp, and created a new meme.
Alisson has no time for your shenanigans pic.twitter.com/GQRMOXGbwm
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2018
Somebody photoshop Mexico flag on Alisson and Germany flag on the balloon
— Jo (@mynamekohe) June 17, 2018
That red balloon represents my hopes for him coming to Liverpool. ?
— Ryan Dueñas ?? (@ryanduenas) June 17, 2018
Alisson vs the baloon! #BRA #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/E2afYasbUW
— 8bit-Football.com (@8bitfootball) June 17, 2018
Red ball= Me
— 👑 ŚÀÑĐÏŁĘ 👑🇿🇦🐐 (@Stanza_SA) June 17, 2018
Alisson= Life #BRAxSUI pic.twitter.com/5HRohtWwzD
Balloon is my self esteem and Alisson is my mom pic.twitter.com/Z7XeB0khBV
— Duna Sherdo (@DunaSherdo) June 17, 2018
Alisson stamping out Liverpool's transfer interest like...#BRASUI #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/iLfp4z9Xvw
— FOX SPORTS Football (@FOXFootballLive) June 17, 2018
Alisson: NOT a fan of balloons. https://t.co/FTxgVht13A pic.twitter.com/mxvDoJ7rf9
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) June 17, 2018
This is what Alisson thinks about living in Liverpool
— DonkeysOut (@CarvalhoJTElite) June 17, 2018
pic.twitter.com/gsrtmHY1pV
First published June 17, 11:21 a.m. PT
Update, 2:21 p.m.: Adds info on the Brazil-Switzerland game.
Discuss: World Cup 2018 memes: Mexico stuns Germany; Brazil pops a balloon
Be respectful, keep it clean and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion.