FULL TIME: Germany 4-1 Mexico
And that’s that! Germany, who have made eight World Cup finals and six European Championship finals, reach their first Confederations Cup final! It’s not totally clear how they held Mexico to just the one goal - and an other-worldly strike that was too - but they did. And they were certainly worth four going forward. They deservedly take their place in the final, where they will be favourites against South American champions Chile. But Mexico did themselves proud tonight, even if that scoreline suggests otherwise. What a match that was! If we get games as half as good as this at next year’s World Cup, we’ll be doing pretty well.
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90 min +3: Hernandez has a low lash from distance, the ball only just evading Germany’s right-hand post. It took a deflection, too, so there’s a corner, which leads to Jimenez blasting a header straight at ter Stegen. What a wild finish!
GOAL! Germany 4-1 Mexico (Younes 90+1)
And in the first, Germany put to bed any idea of an improbable Mexican comeback. Mexico pile forward, but Werner counters at pace. The ball ends up at the feet of Can, on the edge of the D. He slides a pass towards Younis to his left. Younis threads a gorgeous diagonal shot past Ochoa and into the bottom right, and Germany are in the final for sure!
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90 min: It’s probably too little, too late, of course. But Fabian slips just as it looks he’s going to take possession of a long ball down the middle, Germany in the midst of a panic! It’s hacked clear. There will be three minutes of added time.
GOAL! Germany 3-1 Mexico (Fabian 89)
Can, trying his luck seeing he’s already been booked, trips Marquez from behind in the midfield. The free kick’s tapped right to Fabian, who from 35 yards sends a hysterically swerving riser into the top right! Ter Stegen was at full stretch! That is astonishing!
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87 min: It’s not as though Mexico haven’t had their chances. The corner lands on the head of Marquez, ten yards out. But he can’t keep it on target, the ball sailing miles over the crossbar.
86 min: Lozano launches a sortie down the right this time. He tears into space, and crosses at pace. Hernandez is waiting, willing to sidefoot home. But Ginter is there to hack the ball over the bar. Corner.
84 min: Corner for Mexico down the right. Layun curls it with pace to the near post, where Marquez batters a header towards the top right. Surely that’s going in? Nope! Ter Stegen somehow parries it, and Ginter heads away. And it turns out there’s been a bit of pushing anyway, so the flag goes up. But ter Stegen wasn’t to know, and what a save that was!
82 min: Layun races down the right and whips in yet another fine cross. Fabian and Rudiger clatter into each other. They both roll around in pain. Poor Fabian’s taken a proper whack upside the head. Rudiger, not so much. Another interpretative dance piece examining the concept of pain.
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81 min: The Germany captain Draxler is replaced by Younes.
80 min: Brandt spins away from trouble in the middle of the park, romps upfield, one-twos with Werner to his right, and very nearly gets a shot away from the edge of the Mexico box. But he can’t quite get the ball under control. That would have been some introduction.
79 min: Stindl is replaced by Brandt. Choppy waters for Mexico.
77 min: Hernandez dribbles at pace down the right, and very nearly breaks clear of Ginter. But the German defender sticks out a telescopic leg and toes the ball away from Hernandez just as the striker looks like busting into the area. How have Mexico not scored today?
75 min: Draxler diddles Layun down the left with an outrageous piece of skill, sending the ball one way and scooting past the other. He cuts inside, enters the area and ... well, it’d have been some goal, but the shot’s not up to much. Mexico go up the other end and nearly reduce the arrears to a couple, Lozano reaching the byline on the left and cutting back for Jimenez, who sends the ball twanging off the crossbar with a fine diving header from eight yards. Ter Stegen was beaten all ends up!
74 min: Can very nearly breaks clear down the inside-left channel, but he doesn’t have the pace to work enough space to shoot.
73 min: Rudiger goes down like a sack of spuds after being pushed lightly in the chest by Hernandez. The Mexico striker then demands the referee take a look at the TV replay system, presumably with some sort of punishment for poor acting in mind. Two grown men here. The referee, tired of it all, waves them both away.
71 min: Emre Can has only been on the field for four minutes, and already he’s in the book. Rightly so, for standing on Marquez’s boot.
70 min: With that in mind, Mexico suddenly pick up the speed. Hernandez sprays a pass wide right for Layun, who smashes a fine effort towards the top right from a tight angle. Ter Stegen parries round the post for a corner. From the set piece, the ball falls towards Alanis and Araujo on the edge of the six-yard box. They get in each other’s way, allowing Ginter to hook clear.
69 min: Mexico stroke it around the middle awhile, but it’s far too late for patient probing.
67 min: Fabian has another crack, this time from 20 yards. It sails wide right. And then a couple more changes: Mexico swap Jonathan dos Santos for Marquez, while Germany take off the two-goal hero Goretzka and send on Can.
65 min: Draxler and Werner exchange passes down the left, both running at pace in the powerful style. They drift inside, flying in formation, and it looks like Draxler will work space to shoot from the edge of the box. Instead he falls over, and rather brazenly looks for a free kick. Nope! Germany come again, Henrichs hooking in from the right, the ball deflecting off Alanis and nearly dropping to Werner. Ochoa gathers.
63 min: Fabian replaces Giovani dos Santos. And he very nearly makes an instant impact! Hernandez, to the right of the Germany D, slips a diagonal pass inside. It’s meant for Jimenez on the penalty spot, but rolls to Fabian on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box instead! It’s a tight angle, though, with ter Stegen in the road, and he lashes his shot into the side netting. A goal for Mexico now, and you never know.
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62 min: Werner very nearly outstrips Moreno for pace down the inside-right channel. Not quite, but the two came together, and if the ricochet had gone Werner’s way, it’d surely have been 4-0.
61 min: That third goal has understandably taken the wind out of Mexico. Germany stream forward and win a corner. It comes to naught. But as things stand - with the Mexicans the only previous winners of this tournament still technically left standing - it looks as though we’ll have a new name on the trophy this year.
GOAL! Germany 3-0 Mexico (Werner 59)
This was a gorgeously simple team goal. Draxler, conducting in front of the D, slips a ball down the left channel for Hector, who hooks it into the middle, past the angle-narrowing Ochoa, for Werner to sweep into an empty net. A suspicion that Werner might have been offside when Draxler played the defence-splitting ball forward ... and he looks around towards the official sheepishly ... but he’s probably earned that decision after the recent non-penalty incident.
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57 min: Lozano shows for the first time, whipping a delightful dipping cross from the left towards Hernandez at the far post. It’s too far ahead of the striker, but only just. Good luck in guessing which team will score next.
56 min: Germany take an awfully long time to get their set piece away. Eventually, an elaborately worked effort gives Draxler a little space just right of centre, 25 yards out. He looks to curl one into the bottom right with power, but the keeper’s always claiming that.
54 min: Goretzka makes good down the middle and is clattered to the ground from behind by Jimenez, who is booked for his trouble. A free kick, the best part of 30 yards out.
52 min: Werner is once again sent clear down the right by the excellent Henrichs. And once again he fails to convert. Though this time it’s not all his fault, and he’s got the right to feel a little aggrieved. While waiting for Ochoa to come off his line, the in-pursuit Moreno gives him a blatant shove in the back. It’s enough to confuse Werner into screwing a shot past the keeper and straight across the face of goal. That should have been a penalty.
51 min: Mexico have started the second half in the manner they ended the first. In control. On a quick break, three on two, Hernandez should slip Jimenez clear down the right. But his pass outside forces Jimenez to slow down. Jimenez still gets a shot away, checking inside and pearling one from the right-hand edge of the D. But it’s straight at ter Stegen.
50 min: ... Mexico nearly score. Giovani dos Santos fires a mid-height corner into the box. Jimenez flicks it on at the near post. Hernandez is too close to react, though; it smacks into his startled coupon and over the bar.
49 min: Germany look a bit sleepy. The impressive Layun strides down the right wing and earns a corner. From which ...
47 min: Mexico started the first half with some uncertain playing out from the back. This time Alanis plays a terrible ball inside for his keeper Ochoa, who bangs his clearance into a hard-pressing Werner. On another day, that would have ricocheted into the net. This time, Ochoa and Mexico get away with it.
46 min: Moreno tries to get Lozano involved immediately, but his raking pass down the left evades both the substitute and Hernandez.
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We’re off again! Mexico have made one change, swapping Javier Aquino out on the left for Hirving Lozano. And they get the ball rolling for this second half.
And more from our man Kieran Pender: “In many ways this encounter mirrors yesterday’s semi-final in Kazan: open, attacking, end-to-end football. The only difference is that Germany were clinical in front of goal in the first 10 minutes, while last night neither Chile nor Portugal could find the net during 120 minutes. Both back-lines in action this evening have failed to record a clean sheet at the tournament to date, and it looks like that trend will continue. Mexico were unlucky not to grab at least one goal in that half, and this game is far from over.”
Half-time reading: While we’re on a Fifa-tournament tip...
HALF TIME: Germany 2-0 Mexico
The four-time world champions are 45 minutes away from their first-ever Confederations Cup final. But the 1999 winners of this tournament are not done yet. Don’t leave us!
45 min: Draxler brings down Herrera in the midfield. A chance for Mexico to load the box. Herrera floats a dismal effort into the mixer; Rudiger rises to clear. There will be one added minute; it looks like Germany will make it back to the dressing room with their two-goal lead in tact.
43 min: A rare attack for Germany falls apart when Goretzka pointlessly runs the ball out of play in a good position down the right. To be fair, he’s got plenty of moral credit to fritter way tonight.
42 min: The set piece leads to another set piece, which leads to nothing. But Germany could do with hearing the half-time whistle here, as Mexico seriously threaten to eat into their lead.
40 min: The corner comes to naught, though Mexico are quickly coming back at Germany. Aquino, down the left, curls deep towards the far post. Hernandez and Jimenez are queuing up to convert from six yards. Ginter rather marvellously gets his eyebrows on the ball, deflecting a certain goal out for a corner.
39 min: Hernandez whips one up over the wall and back down. It’s probably going over the bar, but ter Stegen takes no chances. He tips over for a corner.
38 min: Mexico have done very well to get back into this game. Once again they string a few passes together in the German half. Giovani dos Santos sends a message to Rudy with a dropped shoulder, and he’s battered to the ground as he glides past. Free kick in a fairly central position, 25 yards out.
36 min: Mexico really should be on the scoresheet. Giovani dos Santos, on the edge of the German D, returns the favour to Hernandez, dinking a pass down the left channel. Kimmich miskicks as he attempts to clear, and suddenly Hernandez is free in the box! All he’s got to do is lift the ball over the advancing ter Stegen. Easier said and done, of course, when ter Stegen is channelling his inner Peter Schmeichel. A fine star jump does enough to put Hernandez off; the striker overcooks his chip, which sails harmlessly over the bar.
34 min: A simple ball rolled down the middle of the park, towards the German box. It looks like there’s no danger, but with his back to goal, Hernandez plays a clever little reverse dink down the right channel to release Giovani dos Santos. He’s one on one with ter Stegen, but his low drive is straight at the keeper, who hacks away with his feet. The ball breaks to Giovani’s brother Jonathan, who tries to steer a ball dropping near the penalty spot with his head. Bad choice.
32 min: Draxler is caught snoozing 25 yards from his own goal, allowing Giovani dos Santos to steal away with the ball. He’s got time and space to shoot, on the edge of the D, so the subsequent low drag, miles to the right of the target, is something of a thundering disappointment.
31 min: A period of possession for Mexico in Germany’s final third. A lot of forensic probing. Eventually Jimenez and Layun combine well to confuse Hector down the right. The low cross Layun delivers is extremely dangerous, but fortunately for Germany, Hernandez has dozily wandered offside.
29 min: A slight lull, the first of the match. So here’s a quick word from the Guardian’s man in Sochi, Kieran Pender: “While venues at the Confederations Cup have generally been half-full at best, group stage crowds at Fisht Stadium in Sochi were particularly disappointing. Situated within an area used for the 2014 Winter Olympic, the stadium is almost 40 kilometres from Sochi itself, which even then only has a population of around 400,000. Tonight’s attendance is an improvement - perhaps 75% capacity - and the fans were in full voice prior to kick-off. Let’s hope they don’t bore too quickly - the Mexican wave has been making an appearance in the opening minutes of some matches. Although, given one of the participating teams, it would be apt...”
27 min: Herrera sashays down the middle and lays off for Jimenez on the edge of the box. That’s the intention, anyway, but Hector closes the Mexican down just before he can shoot. Once again, though, there were gaps appearing in that German defence. This is not over.
26 min: Mexico come back at Germany quickly, though, Jonathan dos Santos having a blast from 25 yards in a central position. It’s blocked pretty much at source. Draxler responds with a quick break down the Germany left, but he out-dribbles himself upon reaching the Mexico box. Then the Mexicans go back upfield themselves. Giovani dos Santos shovelling a cross in from the right, his brother Jonathan very nearly meeting it six yards out with a spectacular slide. This is a lot of end-to-end fun!
24 min: Another deep cross from the right by the full back Layun forces Henrichs to sidefoot out for a corner near his own left-hand post. Calm defending of a dangerous ball. The corner is dealt with easily enough by Germany.
22 min: Layun finds a bit of space down the right and curls one to the far post. Alanis strains every muscle in his neck, hoping to lunge forward and meet the ball, but the cross is just a wee bit too high. There is still hope for Mexico: Germany don’t look particularly strong at the back, like that’s breaking news in this tournament.
21 min: Again Mexico respond to danger by going on the attack. Jimenez and Hernandez diddle their way down the right wing, but their intricate passing comes to an end on the edge of the German box. “Have the Germany fans started a Mexican wave?” wonders Peter Oh, a raised eyebrow trying to start one off.
19 min: It should be 3-0. Henrichs, in a deep position on the right wing, rolls a simple pass down the wing to release Werner. He’s one on one with Ochoa, albeit facing a tight-ish angle. Still, he should probably draw the keeper and dink the ball over him and in, but elects to blast instead. The keeper is able to parry round the post, a fine save he should never have been allowed to make. The corner is met by the head of Kimmich, but it flies harmlessly over the bar.
18 min: Kimmich slides a teasing pass down the centre and very nearly releases Stindl into the box. Aquino, tracking back, slides in to concede a corner out on the right. The set piece comes to absolutely nothing.
16 min: This game is very open. Both sides are paying little more than lip service to keeping it tight at the back. This won’t end 2-0.
14 min: Jonathan dos Santos wants to watch himself. He’s already clattered Stindl once; now he slides in again with studs showing. No contact, and dos Santos at least appears in control, so the referee isn’t too fussed. But after Mexico’s appalling start, it’d be no surprise if someone’s head goes.
12 min: Mexico are looking dangerous down the flanks. Jimenez opens his legs and strides down the right and reaches the byline, but his hook back into the centre isn’t anywhere near a green shirt. The ball’s recycled by Mexico, and Alanis romps in from the left to have a dig from the best part of 30 yards. Nope! Ter Stegen saves that with one hand in his pocket.
11 min: ... nowt. But it’s a start. Small acorns for the Little Pea and his colleagues.
10 min: Mexico might as well go for it now. At least thats what they appear to have decided. Hernandez races down the right and loops a dangerous cross into the mixer. Germany have had trouble with these, this last couple of weeks. But Jimenez can’t quite get his nut on it. No matter. Mexico come again, this time down the left. Aquino whips a fine ball to the far post, forcing Henrichs to chest out for a corner. From which ...
GOAL! Germany 2-0 Mexico (Goretzka 8)
One minute and 49 seconds later, Goretzka makes it two. Werner picks the ball up in the middle with Mexico again light at the back. He drifts a little to the right, then slips a ball down the channel for Goretzka, who enters the area and clips a delicious finish over the advancing Ochoa and into the unguarded net! Mexico already have half an idea how Brazil felt three years ago.
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GOAL! Germany 1-0 Mexico (Goretzka 6)
Mexico have fallen behind in every game so far in this tournament. And they’re behind again. This was so simple, as Germany broke quickly upfield. Henrichs romped down the right and fizzed a low pass inside for Goretzka on the edge of the D. Goretzka met the ball first time, carefully guiding a pass with the outside of his foot into the bottom left. What a lovely finish!
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5 min: A poor Herrera pass in the midfield is intercepted by Rudy, who quickly feeds Stindl with a pass forward. Stindl is clumsily hacked down from behind by Jonathan dos Santos. You’ve seen yellow cards for that; the clock and the referee’s patience is the Mexican’s friend here.
4 min: It’s all a bit scrappy now, but Mexico have a chance to finally get their foot on the ball, and stroke it around the middle accordingly. A pleasant respite after that breezy German start.
2 min: Mexico are being pinned back already by a German side very much on the front foot. Heavy metal pressing. Eventually the ball’s hoofed upfield in a panic, and the wise old (!) Hernandez purchases a cheap free kick in the midfield to ease the pressure.
And we’re off! Germany get the ball rolling in the modern style, Draxler alone by the centre spot and hoicking it backwards. Then forwards. Mexico try to play it out from the back. Moreno is nearly caught out by Werner, buzzing around, and the ball clanks out for a goal kick. There’s a splash of red on the ball. Can’t quite make out the design. Perhaps it’s been sponsored by Chick-fil-A.
The teams are out! The world champions are in their world-famous white shirts and black shorts; Mexico wear their traditional green tops and white strides. The mascots are dressed in yellow and red, on account of being sponsored by McDonald’s. The anthems are sung. Not with any particular fervour, it has to be said. Nerves, no doubt. We’ll be off in a minute.
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Germany and Mexico last faced each other a dozen years ago to the day. That was at the 2005 staging of this very tournament. Playing off for third place, the teams drew 3-3 in normal time, Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Robert Huth each taking turns to give Germany the lead; Francisco Fonseca and Jared Borgetti (twice) pulling Mexico level each time. Michael Ballack eventually decided it in extra time. Who’d turn down another match like that this evening?
Germany make four changes to the experimental version of their experimental team sent out against Cameroon. In come Jonas Hector, Benjamin Henrichs, Leon Goretzka and Lars Stindl; out go Niklas Sule, Emre Can, Marvin Plattenhardt and Kerem Demirbay.
Mexico must do without their suspended captain Andres Guardado. Also missing from the starting XI that faced Russia: Diego Reyes, Hirving Lozano and Carlos Vela. Stepping up: Raul Jimenez, Giovani dos Santos, Javier Aquino and Oswaldo Alanis.
Tonight's teams
Germany: ter Stegen, Henrichs, Kimmich, Ginter, Rudiger, Hector, Rudy, Goretzka, Stindl, Draxler, Werner.
Subs: Trapp, Mustafi, Plattenhardt, Wagner, Demirbay, Can, Younes, Sule, Sane, Brandt, Demme, Leno.
Mexico: Ochoa, Araujo, Alanis, Moreno, Layun, Giovani dos Santos, Herrera, Jonathan dos Santos, Aquino, Jimenez, Javier Hernandez.
Subs: Cota Robles, Salcedo, Marquez, Diego Reyes, Fabian, Vela, Damm, Guardado, Peralta, Luis Reyes, Lozano, Talavera.
Referee: Nestor Pitana (Argentina).
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Good evening Russia!
It won’t be long before football does the decent thing, clearing the stage for cricket, tennis and golf. It is summer, after all. But before that, the 2017 Confederations Cup must reach its climax! And to be fair, this, the second semi-final between reigning world champions Germany and Concacaf Gold Cup holders Mexico, promises to be a doozy.
Both teams are unbeaten in this competition so far, with two wins and a draw apiece. Germany have seen off Australia and Cameroon, and drawn with finalists Chile. Mexico meanwhile have beaten New Zealand and hosts Russia, and scrambled a draw against Portugal.
The Germans, however, are very much an experimental collective, the emphasis strongly on youth, nary a 2014 World Cup winner to be seen. Mexico on the other hand draw on a wealth of international experience. The Little Pea is 29 years old, for goodness sake! Time is the friend of no man. Different approaches, then, but both sides have been among the goals, while not looking totally watertight at the back. It promises much. It could well deliver. It’s on!
Kick off: 7pm BST, 9pm at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi.
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