SHOWS: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JUNE 17, 2018)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.

MEXICAN FANS WITH MEXICO FLAG SINGING 2.

MEXICO FAN ALBERT TAPIA FROM GUANAJUATO AND JUMPING UP AND DOWN 3.

MEXICAN FANS JUMPING UP AND DOWN AND SINGING 4.

MEXICAN GIRL IN SOMBRERO SINGING 5.

MEXICO FANS POSING FOR PHOTOS AND CHANTING 6.

MEXICO FANS SINGING 7.

VARIOUS OF GERMAN FANS SINGING "OLE SUPER GERMANY" 8.

GERMAN FANS SINGING "OLE SUPER GERMANY" WITH MEXICAN FANS 9.

MEXICAN FAN IN SOMBRERO CHANTING "MEXICO" / PAN TO GERMAN FANS SINGING AND CLAPPING 10. (SOUNDBITE)(German) GERMAN FAN ENRICO AUSBORN FROM BERLIN, SAYING: "That's true, Mexico is a really tough opponent, the hardest opponent in the group I would say, but we will start with a victory today." 11. (SOUNDBITE)(German) GERMAN FAN, FRANK EPPERT, FROM BERLIN, SAYING: "Exactly, the atmosphere here is super, yesterday we were with Argentina and Iceland, that is why I am still wearing my helmet, it was gigantic, it was a fantastic game with a great result, and now we are excited about Germany playing against Mexico, it will be super exciting, the Mexicans are good.

And yeah, Moscow is brilliant, Moscow is so great, so beautiful, the people are so friendly, the weather is with us and it is all just great." 12. (SOUNDBITE)(German) GERMAN FAN, MICHAEL SOWA FROM BERLIN, SAYING HE HOPES THE GERMANY-MEXICO MATCH WON'T BE LIKE THE ARGENTINA-ICELAND MATCH: "Exactly, we watched the game ourselves, it was really exciting, and of course the same thing can happen to us, that we have more problems playing against Mexico than we fans think at the moment.

But then if that is the case then it's just one game, and whether you win or not there are two matches after that, and so then they are even more important.

But at the moment we are in a good mood and feeling positive that we can win it." 13. (SOUNDBITE)(English) MEXICO FAN, ARTURO ROBLE, FROM MEXICO CITY, SAYING: "Well I think that is the spirit because we came all the way from another part of the world, and we came here to beat them.

That's our goal, beat Germany so that we can be in the first place. (REPORTER ASKS IF THEY CAN REALLY BEAT THE GERMANS) "We try, 2:1, we want to beat them 2:1.

We believe in miracles, we believe in our country, and we believe in our prayers." 14. (SOUNDBITE)(Spanish) MEXICO FAN ALBERT TAPIA FROM GUANAJUATO, SAYING: "(They will play) Fantastic, Mexico is going to really impress everyone, we are going to take them all on and we are going for the victory, the fucking victory., we are going for it all." 15. (SOUNDBITE)(Spanish) MEXICO FAN ARTURO ROBLE FROM MEXICO CITY, SAYING: "We are from Mexico, we are from the other side of the World, come to beat Germany (ANOTHER FAN INTERRUPTS AND SAYS 2:1) We are going to beat them, and play the best because to be the best, you have to beat the best, to get into the next rounds." 16.

GERMAN FANS IN A BAR SHOUTING 'GERMANY' 'MEXICO' 17.

GERMAN FAN WITH FOOTBALL HAT ON HIS HEAD 18.

MEXICAN FAN IN LEATHER MASK WALKING DOWN THE STREET 19.

VARIOUS FANS WALKING DOWN THE STREET STORY: The atmosphere was vibrant in Moscow ahead of the Germany-Mexico match later on Sunday.

With sombreros on their heads and flags draped over their shoulders, Mexican and German fans were enjoying the sunshine, singing together but both hoping for a win for their own team.

The World Cup Group F opener kicks off at Moscow's Luzhniki stadium at 1700 (1400 GMT) The reigning world champions Germany are tournament favourites, but the Mexican fans are confident they've come to beat Die Mannschaft.