World Cup: Group F: Germany vs. Mexico, 6/17/2018

[Live in the Now]

Germany

Coach: Joachim Löw

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	GK	Manuel Neuer (captain)	27 March 1986 (aged 32)	75	0	Bayern Munich
2	DF	Marvin Plattenhardt	26 January 1992 (aged 26)	6	0	Hertha BSC
3	DF	Jonas Hector	27 May 1990 (aged 28)	37	3	1. FC Köln
4	DF	Matthias Ginter	19 January 1994 (aged 24)	17	0	Borussia Mönchengladbach
5	DF	Mats Hummels	16 December 1988 (aged 29)	63	5	Bayern Munich
6	MF	Sami Khedira	4 April 1987 (aged 31)	74	7	Juventus
7	MF	Julian Draxler	20 September 1993 (aged 24)	43	6	Paris Saint-Germain
8	MF	Toni Kroos	4 January 1990 (aged 28)	82	12	Real Madrid
9	FW	Timo Werner	6 March 1996 (aged 22)	13	7	RB Leipzig
10	MF	Mesut Özil	15 October 1988 (aged 29)	90	23	Arsenal
11	FW	Marco Reus	31 May 1989 (aged 29)	30	9	Borussia Dortmund
12	GK	Kevin Trapp	8 July 1990 (aged 27)	3	0	Paris Saint-Germain
13	MF	Thomas Müller	13 September 1989 (aged 28)	90	38	Bayern Munich
14	MF	Leon Goretzka	6 February 1995 (aged 23)	15	6	Schalke 04
15	DF	Niklas Süle	3 September 1995 (aged 22)	10	0	Bayern Munich
16	DF	Antonio Rüdiger	3 March 1993 (aged 25)	24	1	Chelsea
17	DF	Jérôme Boateng	3 September 1988 (aged 29)	70	1	Bayern Munich
18	DF	Joshua Kimmich	8 February 1995 (aged 23)	28	3	Bayern Munich
19	MF	Sebastian Rudy	28 February 1990 (aged 28)	25	1	Bayern Munich
20	MF	Julian Brandt	2 May 1996 (aged 22)	15	1	Bayer Leverkusen
21	MF	İlkay Gündoğan	24 October 1990 (aged 27)	25	4	Manchester City
22	GK	Marc-André ter Stegen	30 April 1992 (aged 26)	19	0	Barcelona
23	FW	Mario Gómez	10 July 1985 (aged 32)	74	31	VfB Stuttgart

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Mexico

Coach: Juan Carlos Osorio

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	GK	José de Jesús Corona	26 January 1981 (aged 37)	52	0	Cruz Azul
2	DF	Hugo Ayala	31 March 1987 (aged 31)	42	1	UANL
3	DF	Carlos Salcedo	29 September 1993 (aged 24)	20	0	Eintracht Frankfurt
4	DF	Rafael Márquez	13 February 1979 (aged 39)	144	18	Atlas
5	DF	Diego Reyes	19 September 1992 (aged 25)	55	1	Porto
6	MF	Jonathan dos Santos	26 April 1990 (aged 28)	31	0	LA Galaxy
7	MF	Miguel Layún	25 June 1988 (aged 29)	63	6	Sevilla
8	FW	Marco Fabián	21 July 1989 (aged 28)	38	9	Eintracht Frankfurt
9	FW	Raúl Jiménez	5 May 1991 (aged 27)	63	13	Benfica
10	MF	Giovani dos Santos	11 May 1989 (aged 29)	104	19	LA Galaxy
11	FW	Carlos Vela	1 March 1989 (aged 29)	68	18	Los Angeles FC
12	GK	Alfredo Talavera	18 September 1982 (aged 35)	27	0	Toluca
13	GK	Guillermo Ochoa	13 July 1985 (aged 32)	93	0	Standard Liège
14	FW	Javier Hernández	1 June 1988 (aged 30)	101	49	West Ham United
15	DF	Héctor Moreno	17 January 1988 (aged 30)	91	3	Real Sociedad
16	DF	Héctor Herrera	19 April 1990 (aged 28)	65	5	Porto
17	MF	Jesús Manuel Corona	6 January 1993 (aged 25)	35	7	Porto
18	MF	Andrés Guardado (captain)	28 September 1986 (aged 31)	144	25	Real Betis
19	FW	Oribe Peralta	12 January 1984 (aged 34)	66	26	América
20	MF	Javier Aquino	11 February 1990 (aged 28)	53	0	UANL
21	DF	Edson Álvarez	24 October 1997 (aged 20)	12	1	América
22	FW	Hirving Lozano	30 July 1995 (aged 22)	27	7	PSV Eindhoven
23	MF	Jesús Gallardo	15 August 1994 (aged 23)	22	0	UNAM

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[TBODY] [/TBODY]

There was a preview of sorts for this game in last year's Confederations Cup. The football was good.

Click to read more...

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Both sides looking shaky going in. Germany has a history of this coming into major tourneys and then starting well, but this first match still looks to be a mystery until kick off.

 

[cgf]

4-1 Germany feels like the safe bet here...even if Mexico are the second most interesting team at this tourney tactically, alongside Morocco.

 

[Suiteness]

4-1 Germany feels like the safe bet here...even if Mexico are the second most interesting team at this tourney tactically, alongside Morocco.

Who's number one?

 

[cgf]

Who's number one?

Stupid english being my second language & sloppy editing. That should've read "are one of the two most interesting..." With them and Morocco being the two that I'm fascinated by.

 

[Suiteness]

Stupid english being my second language & sloppy editing. That should've read "are one of the two most interesting..." With them and Morocco being the two that I'm fascinated by.

lol ok, english is my third language and I thought that's what you meant as well.

 

[Theokritos]

4-1 Germany feels like the safe bet here...even if Mexico are the second most interesting team at this tourney tactically, alongside Morocco.

A German victory by three goals is the safe bet here? What am I missing?

 

[cgf]

lol ok, english is my third language and I thought that's what you meant as well.

It's the worst when I start re-phrasing a post

 

[cgf]

A German victory by three goals is the safe bet here? What am I missing?

That it's the opening match of the world cup? 98 was the last time we scored less than 4 in the opener & this is the strongest team we've sent to a world cup in decades

Plus I'm worried about that mexican attack, which is why I changed my guess from 4-2 to 4-1.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

That it's the opening match of the world cup? 98 was the last time we scored less than 4 in the opener & this is the strongest team we've sent to a world cup in decades

Plus I'm worried about that mexican attack, which is why I changed my guess from 4-2 to 4-1.

HIGHLY subjective. You know or should know better mate.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I think they show better depth, but I can't say the starting XI is much better than 2014. Mexico is struggling quite a bit defensively though, so if...IF...Germany finishes chances I wouldn't be surprised if they score 4 or 5. They may look sloppy on their own back end as well though. 2-2 or worse is not out of the question if Germany don't finish and have similar struggles from the last two months. Their slow and methodic approach to preparing for major tourneys, using friendlies as practice, looks just a little too close to apathy for me this time around...

 

[robertmac43]

Going with the Mexico underdog win because for what ever reason I feel very attached to this team and want them to do well......Likely won't happen, but hey should be fun

 

[Name Nameless]

I'll go for the draw here then. Germany has tradition of opening weak, but a draw is a good enough result for them. Draw then.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Going with the Mexico underdog win because for what ever reason I feel very attached to this team and want them to do well......Likely won't happen, but hey should be fun

I would like a CONCACAF team to be the first to break through the UEFA/CONMEBOL headlock of the WC at some point, even if it's Mexico...just not this Sunday.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I'll go for the draw here then. Germany has tradition of opening weak, but a draw is a good enough result for them. Draw then.

Actually Germany start strong in the group stage, and then fall flat in the 2nd match. They just might be changing things up this year though...

 

[robertmac43]

I would like a CONCACAF team to be the first to break through the UEFA/CONMEBOL headlock of the WC at some point, even if it's Mexico...just not this Sunday.

2023, Canada does it....You heard it here first

 

[cgf]

I know not everyone has the same opinion but to me there isn’t much of a debate unless you doubt Boateng n Neuer’s fitness...which I’m not given how great Manu looks and the reports about Boa’s progress.

Werner, Brandt, LeGo, Kimmich, Süle & Hector is a clear upgrade over Klose’s corpse, Schweini, Lahm, Howedes, Schurrle and a misused Götze from 2014...nevermind that this is the first tourney Reus & Ilkay are healthy for since 2012.

Not only do we have better depth now, but we have an elite forward in the starting 11 that we haven’t had since 2006 or 2008. We have a healthy Reus for the first time since 2012. And with Kimmich and Hector our FBs are a lot better than Howedes, Mustafi & 3 games of Lahm at FB in 2014.

And the 2016 squad had even more flaws than did the 2014 group, which is why it matters that we have much better depth this time around...plus they had euro-Müller, not WM-Müller

 

[cgf]

I think they show better depth, but I can't say the starting XI is much better than 2014. Mexico is struggling quite a bit defensively though, so if...IF...Germany finishes chances I wouldn't be surprised if they score 4 or 5. They may look sloppy on their own back end as well though. 2-2 or worse is not out of the question if Germany don't finish and have similar struggles from the last two months. Their slow and methodic approach to preparing for major tourneys, using friendlies as practice, looks just a little too close to apathy for me this time around...

People literally say this about Germany before every single tourney. Not only is this the strongest german roster we’ve sent in ages, they had the most dominant qualifying campaign of any german team in ages. That’s what matters, not what happened in some friendlies where everyone was focused on not getting hurt.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

I know not everyone has the same opinion but to me there isn’t much of a debate unless you doubt Boateng n Neuer’s fitness...which I’m not given how great Manu looks and the reports about Boa’s progress.

Werner, Brandt, LeGo, Kimmich, Süle & Hector is a clear upgrade over Klose’s corpse, Schweini, Lahm, Howedes, Schurrle and a misused Götze from 2014...nevermind that this is the first tourney Reus & Ilkay are healthy for since 2012.

Not only do we have better depth now, but we have an elite forward in the starting 11 that we haven’t had since 2006 or 2008. We have a healthy Reus for the first time since 2012. And with Kimmich and Hector our FBs are a lot better than Howedes, Mustafi & 3 games of Lahm at FB.

And the 2016 squad had even more flaws than did the 2014 group, which is why it matters that we have much better depth this time around...plus they had euro-Müller, not WM-Müller

Friendlies

 

[cgf]

I'll go for the draw here then. Germany has tradition of opening weak, but a draw is a good enough result for them. Draw then.

Nah we always start off like gangbusters, scoring 4+ goals regardless of the opponent.

It’s our second match that we draw against a bigger & more physical team...

 

[cgf]

Friendlies

Fair enough, at least we’ve got MAtS to take over if Manu lays an egg against Mexico

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

Last time Germany didn't open a big tournament with a win was 2004. Must win game here.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Fair enough, at least we’ve got MAtS to take over if Manu lays an egg against Mexico

That's like going from Messi to Aguero... I mean both great players but MAtS ain't no Nuer. You slip up once it could mean an early exist or going 2nd in the group which means avoiding Argentina in the Semis (if all goes better than my expectations).

I just like the fact that the narrative switched from friendlies to no problem in terms of fitness... you can't have it both ways my dude.

 

[cgf]

That's like going from Messi to Aguero... I mean both great players but MAtS ain't no Nuer. You slip up once it could mean an early exist or going 2nd in the group which means avoiding Argentina in the Semis (if all goes better than my expectations).

I just like the fact that the narrative switched from friendlies to no problem in terms of fitness... you can't have it both ways my dude.

I would say it’s more like going from Messi to Dybala ;-) but you’re right it is possible that Manu’s fitness turns out to be an issue and we have to downgrade to MAtS. I’d argue that even if we rolled into this tourney without Neuer that the upgrades elsewhere still made more of a difference, but That’s why I said I thought the only arguments for 2014 had to do with Boa & Manu’s fitness.

Though I don’t think you’re completely right about friendlies. Friendlies tell us nothing about players’ form & their teams’ cohesion/combination play. But watching the way players move can tell us about their fitness, and Manu is moving like himself again.

Now maybe the rust will force him to make a mistake when the games matter again, but physically he looks to be 100%.

 

[Name Nameless]

Last time Germany didn't open a big tournament with a win was 2004. Must win game here.

I get it, my memory isn't what it used to be, but then again, it hasn't ever been. So, Germany wins first game.

Mexico is a known underachiever, so this should imply a German win too.

Unless my memory has garbled it up again.