Live updates:
Second-half begins
Trivia:
-- After scoring with four of his five shots on target in the Concacaf World Cup 2018 qualifiers, Hirving Lozano managed to score with his first shot on target in the World Cup finals. (Source: OptaJoe)
-- The last time Germany conceded first in a World Cup match and went on to win was back in 1998, versus Mexico (2-1). (Source: OptaJoe)
Half-time report:Half-time report: Woah! What. A. First. Half. Nothing like what many would have expected and nothing like how Germany would have liked things to be. Mexico are ahead by 1-0 at the half-time against the mighty Germans and it's not even a fluke. They have been all over the Germans who have found it difficult to get into their game under immense pressure from the Mexicans. The Mexicans got most and best of the chances, usually on the counter. Lozano has been especially brilliant and it finally paid off in the 34th minute when he was fed by Hernandez on the left. The PSV winger cut inside and fired the ball into the net and beyond Neuer's reach. The Germans tried to respond in kind but have found going difficult under the spirited Mexicans who must be feeling they can take all three points from this game. But it's still only one-half. The Germans are known for their resilience and there is more than just a chance they will make a come-back in the game in the second half. Stay tuned!
Live updates:
Minute 37 -- The Germans responed brilliantly to going down a goal but Kimmich is brought down at the edge of the box.
Kires fires a free-kick but Mexico's Ochoa palms the ball over the bar.
Minute 34 -- It looked like it was coming any time and it has in the 34th minute. Mexico break for the nth time. Hernandez leads the break and feeds Lozano on the left who cuts inside and slots the ball into the bottom left-hand corner. Mexico 1- Germany 0Minute 24: Germany's Joshua Kimmich is awarded the first yellow card of the match who catches Herrera with a high boot.
Minute 23: Mexico look dangerous whenever they break, which they are doing time and again. But their attempts are being thawrted by the German defence. This time Hernandez takes a shot which is blocked by Boateng.
Minute 19-- It's end-to-end stuff at the Luzhniki Stadium. Werner gets at the end of a loafted ball but tamley pokes it straight to Mexico's goalkeeper.
Minute 13 -- Mexico are keeping high-line and pressing hard. Kross falls after being hounded by Guarardo and picks up the ball, believing he was fouled. But the refree awards free-kick to Mexico. Moreno gets at the end of the free-kick and heads it but Neuer comfortably stops it.
Minute 7 -- First free-kick of the game as Mats Hummels bundles Carlos Vela down near the box . Miguel Layun takes the resulting free-kick but shoots it well over the bar.
Minute 3 -- Germany's first attack as Timo Werner runs down the right and drives a shot that narrowly misses the target. Scintillating start to the game.
Minute 1 -- Mexico start confidently and moved the ball around quickly. Hirving Lozano skips past a defender and takes a shot but Jerome Boateng slides in and cuts the shot out.
Peeeeppppp! Kick-off!
Lineups analysis:
Joachim Low names a strong starting 11 of which six played in the World Cup final in 2014. Mesut Ozil is preferred over Marco Reus while Timo Werner starts upfront. Also, a certain Manuel Neuer returns between the sticks after enduring a long spell out due to injuries.
Mexico have started an attacking line-up in a 4-3-3 formation. Javier Hernandez starts upfront along with Carlos Vela.
germany
Trivia:
-- Germany have won their opening game in each of the last seven World Cups, including scoring 20 goals in their last four openers (8 v Saudi Arabia in 2002, 4 v Costa Rica in 2006, 4 v Australia in 2010, 4 v Portugal in 2014). (Source: Optajoe)
Confirmed Line-ups:
Germany starting 11: Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Marvin Plattenhardt, Sami Khedira, Toni Kross, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil, Julian Draxler, Timo Werner (4-2-3-1)
Mexico starting 11: Guillermo Ochoa, Carlos Salcedo, Hugo Ayala, Hector Moreno, Jesus Gallardo, Miguel Layum, Andrés Guardado, Hector Herrera, Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez, Hirving Lozano (4-3-3)
CONFIRMED GERMEX
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17 2018
Here are the official line-ups for today's next match.
What are your thoughts on the selections? pic.twitter.com/JD3G4HajAQ
TEAM NEWS Here's how we line up for our WorldCup opener DieMannschaft ZSMMN GERMEX pic.twitter.com/2m7PpIuNWn
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) June 17 2018
Expect plenty of colour and noise in the Luzhniki Stadium later! GERMEXWorldCup pic.twitter.com/fAOWsHDIf1
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17 2018
Match Preview: Germany vs Mexico
Defending champions Germany will kick-off their title defence when they take on Mexico in a Group F match of the FIFA 2018 World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium here on Sunday.
In their previous 11 meetings, Germany have won six times while the South Americans managed just a single win.
Germany, the 2014 World cup holders, qualified top of their group in UEFA qualification, winning every game and amassing a goal difference of plus 39 while
Mexico under the unpredictable Juan Carlos Osorio, topped their fourth round and fifth round groups, losing only once in 16 games.
The Manuel Neuer-led side, however, haven't been at their best this year as Germany managed to win just one of their four international friendlies in 2018. While they defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1, they suffered losses against Brazil and Austria.
The biggest concern for Germany was the fitness of their star players Manuel Neuer and Jerome Boateng. Later, Neuer recovered from a serious foot injury to be fit for the mega event.
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez
Mexico too, have a settled squad.With the likes of Hector Herrera and Andres Guardado, Mexico's biggest strength lies in the midfield. The duo will be supported by either Jonathan dos Santos or Marco Fabian, whoever gets a chance in today's game.
Hirving Lozano, Carlos Vela, Giovani dos Santos and Oribe Peralta will lead the Mexican attack. Also, Javier Hernandez and Raul Jimenez are the other two contenders for the striker's slot.
When and where to watch:
FIFA World Cup 2018 Germany vs Mexico match will take place on Sunday, June 17, 2018 at 8.30 PM
Germany vs Mexico will be broadcast on Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD in English Commentary and Sony Ten 3 and Sony 3 HD in Hindi Commentary.
Germany vs Mexico match will be available for live streaming on Sony Liv. And Both Airtel and Jio would broadcast the Fifa World Cup 2018 matches for free to their respective subscribers
This is full 23-man squad of Germany and Mexico:
Mexico squad:
Goalkeepers: Jose Corona, Alfredo Talavera, Guillermo Ochoa
Defenders: Hugo Ayala, Carlos Salcedo, Marquez Rafael, Diego Reyes, Hector Moreno, Herrera Hector, Alvarez Edson
Midfielders: Dos Santos Jonathan, Layum Miguel, Dos Santos Giovani, Corona Jesus, Guardado Andres, Aquino Javier, Gallardo Jesus
Forwards: Fabian Marco, Raul Jimenez, Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez, Peralta Oribe, Lozano Hirving
Mexico Football Squad. (Photo: @miseleccionmx twitter)
Formation and tactics: Mexico line-up in a sort of a 4-3-3 or a 3-1-3-3, with a back three. A playmaker, usually Andres Guardado sits in front of the defenders. The wide men go high up the pitch while the wingers are responsible for creating something.
Key players: Javier Hernandez. Creativity comes from the wide front men, especially Lozano, who should announce himself as a real talent on the world stage, something Eredivisie watchers have known for a while
Trivia: Rafael Márquez is featuring in his fifth different World Cup finals tournament in Russia, equalling the record currently held by Antonio Carbajal (Mexico) and Lothar Matthäus (Germany).
Germany squad:
Goalkeepers: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Kevin Trapp (Paris Saint-Germain).
Defenders: Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea), Niklas Süle (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Mönchengladbach).
Midfielders: Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Mesut Özil (Arsenal), Julian Draxler (Paris Saint-Germain), Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich), Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen).
Formation and tactics: Germany line up in a 4-2-3-1. Defensively, Germany press high. Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels are solid centre-backs who relentlesslymfortable on the ball. The Germans press relentlessly, with their aim being to win the ball back, and then counter-attack using their wide men. Their full-backs also push up and help with the ball. They like to build from the back and keep possession of the ball. Toni Kross and mesut Ozil will be responsible for creating chances for their teams, while Sami Khedira will be the man looking to win the ball back. Up front, Germany have experimented. Thomas Muller is the team's main goal threat but Timo Werner is also an excellent choice. In goal, Manuel Neuer is expected to make his return, and if not, Marc-Andre ter Stegen can more than makeup for him.
Key players: Germany is a system-based team in which the system is more important than the players, despite most of them being global superstars (case in point: Leroy Sane, who was dropped for tactical reasons). Still, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller will need to click for the Die Mannschaft to play well.
Trivia: Only Joshua Kimmich (9) provided more assists in 2018 European World Cup qualifying than Serbia's Dusan Tadic (7). Also, Germany has reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in each of the last four editions, the longest current streak of any team, as well as topping their group in every single World Cup since 1990.