Sports
72372448AM.jpg)
63580352AM.jpg)
Market ends flat on rising selling force
1.
43472337AM.jpg) |
| Mario Gomez (right) of Germany competes for a header with Carlos Salcedo (centre) of Mexico during a group F match between Germany and Mexico at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow, Russia, June 17, 2018. Mexico won 1-0. Xinhua Photo |
Viet Nam News
MOSCOW — Germany coach Joachim Loew said the defending World Cup champions played "very badly" in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Mexico, warning that the shock defeat left them with little margin for error in their remaining group games.
Germany’s preparations ahead of the World Cup were plagued by poor results and controversy, and their problems were magnified in Moscow as they crashed to their first defeat in the opening game of a World Cup since 1982.
Hirving Lozano’s 35th-minute strike at the Luzhniki Stadium earned Mexico just the second win over Germany in history, as Loew’s side paid the price for a dismal first half.
"In the first half we played very badly," Loew said. "We weren’t able to impose our usual way of playing, our attacking and passing was not effective."
"It’s disappointing to have lost the first match," he added. "It’s a situation we’re not used to at all. In many previous tournaments we’ve always won the first match but we have to accept it."
Germany’s proud record of never being eliminated in the group stage at a World Cup is already in danger.
And if they finish runners-up in Group F, Germany could be on course to face Brazil in a daunting second-round match-up. — AFP
