World Cup 2018: Top 5 group stage matches to look forward to

#3 Germany vs Mexico (Group F)

Germany has a brilliant record against Mexico, but the tables could turn this time around

Date: 17th June 2018

Venue: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

Head-to-head:

Games played: 11

Germany wins: 6

Mexico wins: 1

Drawn: 4

Most recently, Germany and Mexico faced each other in the 2017 Confederations Cup semifinal where Germany won 4-1.

Preview:

Germany had a flawless record in qualifying, winning all 10 matches with relative ease and finished 11 points above 2nd placed Northern Ireland. Thomas Muller and Sandro Wagner top scored with 5 goals each.

Mexico also qualified unchallenged, topping the North American qualification with 21 points. Hirving Lozano was their talisman, scoring 4 goals.

Germany enter the tournament with a poor defensive record, unable to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 6 games, of which they lost 2. Mexico on the other hand, have a better record, winning 3 of their last 6 games and keeping 4 clean sheets in the process.

Key players:

Timo Werner, Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer (Germany)

Javier Hernandez, Giovani dos Santos, Hector Herrera (Mexico)

Possible lineups:

Germany(4-2-3-1): Neuer, Kimmich, Hummels, Boateng, Hector, Khedira, Kroos, Muller, Reus, Ozil/Draxler, Werner

Mexico(4-1-4-1): Ochoa, Alvarez, Ayala, Moreno, Gallardo, Herrera, G dos Santos, J dos Santos, Guardado, Corona/Lozano, Hernandez

Prediction: Germany 3-1 Mexico