Well done Mexico! Looks like they can realistically win the group now, and Germany aren't guaranteed second either since Sweden & SK aren't exactly walkovers.

Deserved loss for Germany there. Mexico played them off the park. Simple as that

Pretty terrible performance from the reigning champions there. Completely let their guard down in the first half and way too many long shots missed when they went on the attack in the second half. Really well played from Mexico, nice to finally see one of the underdogs actually coming out on top, should be a good shot to progress now.

Mexico just smashed it to be honest, Germany completely lost it, they didn't really play like they usually do. And this is the team that are one of the favourites to win, to be honest its wide open this year. Anyway, they need to win their next 2 games to seal a place in the last 16 place.

 

Mexico just played so well, kudos to them.

I guess that's another shocker for the reigning champions. But that German team didn't look great aside from Neuer at the start.

 

I'd like to see both Sweden and South Korea do well, and they're decent sides, this group is anyone's game now. But Mexico deserved that one tonight.

Tough road for Germany ahead...

Can see it being a Germany win in their match against Mexico. Hopefully they will put one a show tomorrow.

Proves how bad my predictions go.

 

Great win for Mexico.

 

The standout teams so far have been Portugal and Spain for me.

 

 

Mexico definitely deserved that win and it could have been a lot more comfortable if Mexico didn't squander so many chances. Germany are gonna have to replicate what Spain did in 2010 if they are to retain the trophy this year. Thomas Muller went missing for the whole match, Timo Werner was wasteful in front of goal and Mesut Ozil gave the ball away a lot. Leroy Sane could have made a big difference today with his pace and trickery, still baffled as to why Joachim Low left him out of the squad.

 

 

I hope Mexico win this group now so that we can get a likely match between Germany and Brazil in the Round Of 16. Two more victories against Sweden and South Korea will ensure that happens and then the challenge for them will be getting past the Round Of 16 after so many exits at that stage.

 

 

 

It just follows recent records of champions starting (or even doing) badly. The passion isn't as high to retain a trophy than it is to win/regain it generally, very much like the PL (and until recently the CL). Everyone is coming for you as well which makes it extra hard!

 

But as was mentioned teams have lost their first game & still gone on to win before so it's not a disastrous result by any means. But considering the ruthless efficient Germany is known for I couldn't have seen this result coming from a mile away.

It just follows recent records of champions starting (or even doing) badly. The passion isn't as high to retain a trophy than it is to win/regain it generally, very much like the PL (and until recently the CL). Everyone is coming for you as well which makes it extra hard!

 

But as was mentioned teams have lost their first game & still gone on to win before so it's not a disastrous result by any means. But considering the ruthless efficient Germany is known for I couldn't have seen this result coming from a mile away.

 

Only one team has done that, and that team is one of the greatest that's in world football. This current German team isn't anywhere near it.

 

Low prefers Bundesliga based players for some reason, I thought today Germany were crying out for pace. Maybe Sane could have helped, but he plays a very different role in this Germany team to that of Man City. Think they will get through still, but they have looked off-form for a good while now so will need a rocket up their arses.

That's both interesting & surprising that only Spain in 2010 previously achieved that. And for the record I don't think they were that great a team. 1-0 wins all the way through. Plenty of passing with little end product - and a reminder of why the 2010 World Cup will not be looked back upon fondly.

Yeah it struck me this evening just how many of Loew's team were Bundesliga players. Thinking back, even in 2014 they had a very very high proportion of domestic players. Özil and Caan are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head who play outside of DE.

That's both interesting & surprising that only Spain in 2010 previously achieved that. And for the record I don't think they were that great a team. 1-0 wins all the way through. Plenty of passing with little end product - and a reminder of why the 2010 World Cup will not be looked back upon fondly.

 

They were better at the Euros, but a fantastic team nethertheless. They were hard to play against because you could never get the ball!

 

Yeah it struck me this evening just how many of Loew's team were Bundesliga players. Thinking back, even in 2014 they had a very very high proportion of domestic players. Özil and Caan are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head who play outside of DE.

 

I don't think there's anything wrong with it and to be fair the likes of Kroos and Draxler play outside of the Bundesliga. But struggle to see why he took Draxler instead of Sane. They will improve and Mexico are a good side, but this German team just is not as good as the 2010-2016 team. They miss Bastian.

Not sure Sane would've been much use today, he's not the type of player they needed to break down that defence. He's hardly played for Germany and when he has he's not played particularly well, plus he tossed off the Confederations Cup last year. Can't blame Low for not taking him, made me laugh PL centric fans calling for him, then they bring on Brandt who was absolutely superb, and there ahead of him.

Not sure Sane would've been much use today, he's not the type of player they needed to break down that defence. He's hardly played for Germany and when he has he's not played particularly well, plus he tossed off the Confederations Cup last year. Can't blame Low for not taking him, made me laugh PL centric fans calling for him, then they bring on Brandt who was absolutely superb, and there ahead of him.

 

Yeah Brandt was exactly what they needed at the time, he was unlucky not to score. Think the German's problem is in midfield though, Khdeira and Kroos are not dynamic enough. Any team with pace will scare this German team, Werner aside Germany have little pace. I think taking Sane would have been a smart choice, but can see why he wasn't taken.

I can see it being a one goal win for Sweden when they play South Korea tomorrow.

Well done Mexico! Looks like they can realistically win the group now, and Germany aren't guaranteed second either since Sweden & SK aren't exactly walkovers.

 

From watching the South Korea Sweden game here both should be easily beaten!

Yeah Brandt was exactly what they needed at the time, he was unlucky not to score. Think the German's problem is in midfield though, Khdeira and Kroos are not dynamic enough. Any team with pace will scare this German team, Werner aside Germany have little pace. I think taking Sane would have been a smart choice, but can see why he wasn't taken.

 

How much pace did they have in the last World Cup?

From watching the South Korea Sweden game here both should be easily beaten!

 

Sweden are not bad, they could cause both Mexico/Germany problems but South Korea are terrible. When they have some space they play some neat little things, but a darth of quality.

 

How much pace did they have in the last World Cup?

 

Well they had Gotze/Schurlle, but the game has evolved a little bit since 2014. All the big teams right now around Europe have some pace or players that have a high acceleration. Plus they had Lahm, Klose and Schweinsteiger who had bags and bags of experience.

Yeh but I would t say they had obv pace upfront in comparison to 4 years ago, although the return of Gomez says a lot. Plus I think Spain also lack pace upfront but they still cope.

 

Sweden may cause problems simply by their physical approach but they don't look great here. Although I hear there has been a bug going through their camp!

Edited June 18, 20187 yr by Steve201