FIFA World Cup Day 4 Highlights: Giants fall, dubious records set

Germany loses 0-1 to Mexico while Brazil was held hostage 1-1 by Switzerland

June 18, 2018 10:13 am | Updated 10:21 am IST

 Mexico's Hirving Lozano celebrates scoring their first goal with Jesus Gallardo

Mexico's Hirving Lozano celebrates scoring their first goal with Jesus Gallardo

>> It was overall not a great night for big teams — Germany lost 0-1 to Mexico while Brazil was held to 1-1 by Switzerland. In a first, Brazil, Argentina and Germany all failed to win their opening matches of the same World Cup.

>> Serbia's Nemanja Matić get into a minor scuffle with the Costa Rica coach and players on the bench over a throw-in in the 90+4'. Referees step in to separate the players — VAR looks into the situation, but no action is taken

>> Serbia's Aleksandar Kolarov produced a moment of captain's inspiration in the 56', curling home a superb free kick.

>> Possession of ball: Costa Rica 52%, Serbia 48%

>> Mexico is the first team to defeat Germany in their opening game of a World Cup since Algeria in 1982.

>> It was the second successive World Cup that the champions were beaten in their opening match after Spain were thrashed 5-1 by the Netherlands in Brazil four years ago. Reigning champions have lost their opening match in four of the last eight World Cups with Germany (2018) joining Spain (2014), France (lost to Senegal in 2002), and Argentina (lost to Cameroon in 1990) as losers

>> Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made eight saves in this match, the most he has ever made in a World Cup game.

>> Mexico's Rafael Márquez (39) became the third player to play five World Cups and the first player to captain his side in five consequtive World Cups -- 2002, 2006, 2014, 2014 and 2018

>> Possession of ball: Germany 61%, Mexico 39%

>> In the 20', Brazil's Philippe Coutinho scored the opening goal with a classic long-range curler — a signature Coutinho goal, as fans term it — that beat goalkeeper Yann Sommer, bouncing in off the right post.

>> Switzerland midfielder Steven Zuber headed in the equalizer in the 50th. This goal stoked controversy after Mexican referee Cesar Ramos dismissed complaints that Zuber had shoved defender Miranda out of the way before meeting a corner from Xherdan Shaqiri. Ramos also ignored a penalty claim late in the second half when Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus was wrestled to the ground by Manuel Akanji.

>> The game saw four yellow cards being handed out — three for Switzerland (Lichtsteiner, Schar and Behrami) and one for Brazil (Casemiro).

>> The Swiss committed 19 fouls to Brazil's 12, 10 of which were on Neymar. The 26-year-old was fouled 10 times in the match, the most for any player in a World Cup match since Alan Shearer in 1998.

>> This is the first time in 40 years that Brazil have failed to win their first game of a World Cup.

>> Possession of ball: Brazil 54% Switzerland 46%

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