Hirving Lozano’s goal against Germany causes ‘earthquake’ in Mexico City

Marco Reus was introduced on the hour as Loew sought to invigorate a struggling side, while 39-year-old Rafael Marquez became just the third player to feature at five World Cups as he was brought on the tighten Mexico’s defence.

According to German football journalist Raphael Honigstein, Germany manager Joachim Low contemplated dropping Ozil before the match.

Osorio had to endure vociferous criticism after a 7-0 defeat by Chile at the Copa Centenario in 2016 and again after their performances at the Confederations Cup previous year, including a semi-final defeat to Germany. “We have our style in the Mexican national team, and we’re going to match up their game”.

And yet, the tactical setup against Mexico would have suggested otherwise.

Had Low opted for Mario Gomez instead of Timo Werner, then he might have found that the system might have worked that bit better.

Meanwhile, Lozano termed the victory as one of the biggest in Mexico’s history.

For the most part, it was ponderous and laborious and suited Mexico perfectly.

Germany nearly hit back four minutes later when Toni Kroos tried his luck from a 22-yard free-kick, but his effort was tipped onto the post by the Mexican keeper.

Mexico pulled back into a more defensive formation midway through the second half as key players exhausted and had to withstand heavy pressure from Germany.

Throughout the first half you expected the Germans to arrive – eventually – as they inevitably do, but it simply never came. The last time Mexico saw a World Cup quarterfinal was 1986 when it hosted the competition.

Mexico wasted a series of breakaway chances to increase their advantage in the second period.

Germany will next face Sweden next Saturday, while Mexico will play South Korea. Their aggression and directness posed Germany endless problems and if other sides are as courageous, they could likewise.

Mexico’s Hirving Lozano, left, celebrates with Mexico head coach Juan Carlos Osorio. Hirving Lozano’s stellar strike sealed the deal for the Latin Americans who fought bravely against a star-studded German line-up to clinch an important victory and three points to take the top spot in the group.

Philippe Coutinho smashed them into the lead with that goal you’ve seen him score a hundred times, before Steven Zuber headed home the equaliser, possibly via a push on the sprawling Miranda.

After a remarkably open start, Mexico struck the decisive blow 10 minutes before half-time after Sami Khedira lost possession in the opposition half. Despite an injury crisis in the backline before the tournament, Osorio’s men dealt quite competently with the German threat and limited them to half chances at best.