MOSCOW: Germany woke to gloomy headlines of ‘chaos’ and ‘humiliation’ on Monday after the defending World Cup champions fell 1-0 to Mexico in a shock opening defeat in Russia.

Long used to the dominance of their national team, Germans are digesting their team’s first defeat in a World Cup opening match in 36 years and wondering what will come next.

“Defensive chaos at the world champions,” splashed the country’s best-selling newspaper Bild across its sports section. “Now it is about survival at the World Cup.”

Berlin’s Morgenpost wrote: “Germany have lost their way.”

The Germans, World Cup winners in Brazil four years ago, were one of the pre-tournament favourites but the defeat means there will be no room for error when they face Sweden and South Korea in their remaining Group ‘F’ games.

The four-time winners have reached at least the semi-finals at every World Cup since 2002.

“[Joachim] Loew does not want to change his plan,” wrote the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper. “Now Germany is under pressure.”

The German coach is in the crosshairs after sticking with a lacklustre Mesut Ozil instead of speedy in-form winger Marco Reus, and setting his team up in such a way that allowed the Mexicans to launch countless counter-attacks.

Loew, who has been in charge since 2006 and recently signed a contract extension to 2022, also raised eyebrows a few weeks ago when he did not include Leroy Sane, the English Premier League’s young player of the year, in his final World Cup squad.

“Past good practices don’t work anymore,” wrote the Sueddeutsche Zeitung. “He cannot go on as he has done in the last 12 years.”

The Germans next play Sweden on June 23 before facing South Korea in their final group game four days later.

“The humiliation was homemade. Loew must now change direction,” said Die Welt.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.