With Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira at the base of midfield, the absence of an out-and-out defensive midfielder left Die Mannschaft’s bewildered backline repeatedly exposed as the Mexicans tore through them time and time again.

Left-winger Hirving Lozano lived up to his billing as one of the top talents to watch in the tournament, capping a fine World Cup debut by striking an expertly-taken winner for Juan Carlos Osorio's exciting team.

It’s one game down but already a major step towards a seventh consecutive appearance in the knockout stages for El Tricolor.

GERMANY


Manuel Neuer - 6.5

With a dazed defence in front of him, the Bayern keeper was forced to take the initiative and did so successfully with his usual sweeper-keeper antics.

Joshua Kimmich - 6.5

His first-half battle of wits with Lozano was a great watch but ultimately, it was a battle Kimmich lost. The Bayern full-back supported Germany’s attacks when in possession but on the flip-side, was conspicuous by his absence for the winning goal as Lozano was found running into empty space.

Jerome Boateng - 5.5

A rotten day at the office for both of Germany’s centre-backs, left isolated and outnumbered as their teammates pushed too high. Boateng was guilty of a few rusty touches, clumsy slips and aimless clearances that didn't help his cause.

Mats Hummels - 5

Completely overawed as the Mexican sprint relay team repeatedly ran at him. He was also dispossessed a few times by his opponents’ high-press.

Marvin Plattenhardt - 6

Called into the line-up with first-choice Jonas Hector suffering a cold, the Hertha Berlin defender started pretty cold himself. In only his seventh senior game for Germany he was nervy early on but steadied thereafter.

Toni Kroos - 7.5

Took it upon himself to force the issue for Germany and was their most threatening player by a distance. He came very close to an equaliser with a trademark curling first-time shot that whipped past Ochoa’s left-hand post.

Sami Khedira - 6

Disciplined in his positioning for the most part, but his lack of pace left him unable to aid his defence whenever Mexico raced forward. He was subbed in the second half as Low sought extra creativity.

Thomas Muller - 5

Struggled to force an impact on the left of the attack. It says something when his first TV close-up came in the 85th minute following a booking.

Mesut Ozil - 6

Given licence to roam from wing to wing and to pry open the Mexican backline and showed his usual swagger on the ball but was unable to find the key pass.

Julian Draxler - 6.5

After a quiet first half, Draxler looked brighter in the second, coming further infield in his eagerness to craft something with direct runs and stopovers. He had the will but couldn’t find the way.

Timo Werner - 6

Flashed a shot across goal and had a decent shot on the spin, but the World Cup debutant was frustrated by Mexico’s unbreakable defensive shape and was finally subbed late in the game for Julian Brandt.

SUBS

Marco Reus - 5

The sum total of his contribution was some half-decent corner kicks.

Mario Gomez - 5.5

His free header in the 87th minute was probably Germany’s best chance of the match, but the 32 year-old miscued it completely.

Julian Brandt - 6.5

The man who took Leroy Sane's place in the 23-man squad was on the field for all of four minutes but had Mexico’s weary backline worried with a neat reverse pass, dangerous cross and a 20-yard strike that whistled just wide.

MEXICO


Guillermo Ochoa - 7.5

Keen to get Mexico upfield at the earliest opportunity with quick distribution and did well to push Kroos’ first-half free-kick onto the bar.

Carlos Salcedo - 7

A tidy performance from the Frankfurt full-back - he was perfectly positioned to deal with the increasing number of low, drilled crosses Germany attempted in the second half. 

Hugo Ayala - 7

Stood firm in the face of late pressure when Germany began to turn the screw. He succeeded often in reducing the world champions to pot shots from the edge of the crowded area, which he was then on hand to block.

Hector Moreno - 7

When Mexico won free-kicks in dangerous positions, he was the aerial target. He made a point of being very quick to get the ball forward the moment his team recovered possession.

Jesus Gallardo - 7.5

He didn't allow Germany time to breathe in the first half and was willing to throw his body in where it hurt for the sake of maintaining the lead.

Hector Herrera - 8

Equally tenacious as his midfield partner Gallardo, repeatedly dispossessing any German caught sleeping in posession.

Andres Guardado - 7

The skipper only recently returned from an injury which seriously threatened his participation at the tournament, and he marshalled his midfield to a fine defensive second-half gameplan.

Miguel Layun - 7

Threatened with some decent long-range hits but the ones that found the target were easy work for Neuer.

Carlos Vela - 7.5

Germany couldn’t get to grips with his slippery runs in the early stages and he also played some incisive through-passes. He was Mexico’s ball-carrier-in-chief on the counter-attack and did a fine job of it, but was subbed inside the hour.

Hirving Lozano - 8

Talked up before the tournament and delivered, repeatedly offering an outlet and running daringly at German defenders in an electrifying first-half performance. He's lightning quick and showed great composure with his match-winning finish.

Javier Hernandez - 5.5

Provided the assist for Lozano's winner but fluffed his lines at other crucial moments - in the first half he found in space in the box but allowed the ball to get trapped under his feet, and in the second he misplaced a simple pass which would have resulted in a golden chance to seal the win.

SUBS

Edson Alvarez - 7

On hand to deny Draxler with an excellent last-ditch challenge.

Raul Jimenez - 6

The new Wolverhampton Wanderers signing played his part in trying to win free-kicks in the German half to take the burden off the back-line, but the ref wasn’t buying it.

Rafael Marquez - 6.5

Marquez became the third player to feature at five World Cups and the first to captain a team at four tournaments when he replaced Guardado but his introduction was more than a token gesture. The 39 year-old stationed himself as a deep midfielder that dropped to became a fifth man in a defence that refused to be beaten.