Germany vs Mexico: Hirving Lozano strike stuns World Cup holders in Group F opener

Independent

Hirving Lozano’s first-half strike saw Mexico stun World Cup holders Germany at the Luzhniki Stadium in the opening match of Group F and, if Juan Carlos Osorio’s men had taken their chances, the scoreline might have been embarrassing. 

Germany laid siege to a tiring Mexico’s penalty area in the final 20 minutes but could not find a way past Guillermo Ochoa, despite substitute Julian Brandt’s late strike clipping the post.

A round-of-16 exit has been Mexico’s fate in their last six consecutive World Cup campaigns. At times the glass ceiling has been utterly agonising – a penalty shootout defeat against Bulgaria in 1994, Maxi Rodriguez’s extra-time screamer for Argentina in 2006, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s 94th-minute spot-kick winner for…