Mexico Builds a Wall and Germany Pays

El Tri always expects to go to the World Cup.

Frankly, that's because -- since 1950, anyway -- Mexico almost always goes to the World Cup.

Dudes have advanced to the quarters twice -- 1970 and 1986 -- when they hosted the globe's grandest sporting spectacle.

From 1994 onward, they've always reached the Round of 16.

But then ...

 

As to Germany, 'nuff said.

Die Mannschaft -- it might as well be die Maschine -- is a World Cup fixture, with four stars above their crest and finishing outta the bracket only once since 1954.

They're potent and they know it.

 

Of course, there's that little annoyance of following rules, but Germans have been known to adapt quickly when something's amiss.

Check the fine print at the bottom of this VW ad that's playing in the USA:

 

So, what's all this got to do with Mexico blitzing the Germans with speedy, surgical strikes and an impenetrable defense en route to their 0-1 victory?

 

At Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, nearly 80.000 in attendance witnessed an early crucial match in Group F.

Remember, these two sides met a year ago in the Confederations Cup, and it's safe to say the Germans toyed with El Tri, 4-1.

Mexico learned and adapted.

 

The Mexicans were not intimidated and focused on attacking Germany from the first minute onward. Their approach was not new -- build from the back -- but it was quicker and more coordinated than most had ever seen from them.

As effective as they were defensively, they were relentless when they launched counterattacks. And in one of those, in the 35th minute, Hirving Lozano finished a low, close-range, short-side snipe to beat Manuel Neuer:

When the second half unfolded, Mexico kept with the same tactics, counting on their wall -- the sensational 'keeper Guillermo Ochoa --  to the extent that dudes could sense victory getting closer minute by minute.

Meanwhile, the Germans kept up their own attacks, putting the Mexicans under pressure.

• Thomas Müller was discrete, while
• Toni Kroos hit the post after a deflection by Ochoa:

 

Julian Brandt also hit the post in the waning minutes.

 

 

That close. Mere centimeters can certainly alter perspectives.

This match marked the return to World Cup play by Borussia Dortmund’s captain, Marco Reus, after getting injured on the eve of the last two World Cups. Dude's gonna need to take a bigger role the rest of the way.

Assuming there is a rest of the way after Group F. Joachim Low’s crew just learned the hard way to take nothing for granted.

 

Halfway around the world, El Tri was creating tremors of joy.

 

Figuratively speaking, that is. Real quakes don't work that way.

However, this is an earth-shaking development in Group F:

The pre-tourney anticipation was this would be a battle for runner-up between Mexico and Sweden. No longer.

This is a three-team race now.