If the secret to German football’s success since their root-and-branch reboot has been the industrialisation of elite talent, then this was a moment of malfunction - the time a spanner fell into the works.
For the second successive World Cup, the holders have suffered an opening-game defeat - and though Mexico’s remarkable 1-0 victory at the Luzhniki was not as emphatic as Spain’s 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands four years ago - it is no less astonishing a result.
Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano, the player El Tri’s support has pinned its hopes on, scored the decisive goal - finally finishing off one of the many counters Juan Carlos Osario’s side threatened with in the first half.
Yet this was not the story of one man, it was the story of two teams. One rose above all expectations through a courageous, ruthless and brilliant approach. The other failed to mount to the sum of its parts, falling far below its usual exacting standards.
Germany, a footballing nation that has become renowned for tactical acumen and conscientious preparation, was instead easily and consistently exposed and always appeared unready for the task at hand.
Their success under Joachim Low has been built upon patient, methodical build-up play that eventually overloads and overwhelms the opponent. Mexico, in the opening stages of this encounter, could hardly have taken a more contrasting approach. Juan Carlos Osario’s side showed the reigning champions little to no respect, barely allowing them to draw breath.
Perhaps understanding that there was little point settling for a draw, given how a second-placed finish in Group F will likely set up a last-16 meeting with tournament favourites Brazil, Mexico's quick, cohesive four of Lozano, Miguel Layun, Carlos Vela and Javier Hernandez sought blood from the first whistle, and almost found some soon after. Jerome Boateng, often Germany's saviour in frantic first half, had blocked a goal-bound Lozano effort before a minute was up on the clock.
The chances kept coming. Although Germany were intermittently threatening themselves, many of their forays forward featured the marauding runs of right-back Joshua Kimmich, who seemed unconcerned about the amount of space he left behind him. Boateng and Mats Hummels were repeatedly left to contest one-on-ones and would often lose them. Hernandez found himself inside the area with a clear sight of Manuel Neuer’s goal but could not move the ball out of his feet. The chance went begging.
The first rule of international football's fatalists: if you spurn this many chances against Germany, they will eventually punish you. Yet Mexico's heads did not drop after the missed opportunities. Instead, Osario’s side took each as a sign that their game plan was working. Soon enough, it would produce results.
It came through one of those one-on-ones, this time against Hummels, with Hernandez spinning the Bayern Munich centre-half into submission. A one-two and he was away, but so was Lozano, making tracks down that vacated right flank. An awkward touch around Mesut Ozil made it appear as though another chance might pass, but the finish came quickly, low past Manuel Neuer at the near post.
The second half was a different story. Mexico, with something to protect, could not counter as freely. Germany, their pride hurt, went in desperate search of an equaliser. Toni Kroos had come close with a free-kick before the interval, only for Guillermo Ochoa to palm it against the crossbar and Mexico’s goalkeeper would be only become busier.
Low’s side made 18 attempts at Ochoa’s goal after the break alone. They would end 26 in total, twice the amount Mexico managed, yet few were ever as threatening as the openings their opponents created. They had been tactically out-thought, left without any coherent answers.
This was Germany’s first opening match defeat at a World Cup since 1982 - a 2-1 reverse against Algeria. That year, they still reached the final. This will not precipitate another ‘re-boot’ or lead to principals being questioned, but it will puncture the air of imperiousness that comes with the tag of world champions.
