Germany 4-1 Mexico RECAP: Jogi Low's men show class to set up Confederations Cup final clash with Chile

World champions Germany face off against CONCACAF Gold Cup winners Mexico for the right to take on Chile in Sunday's final

Germany will face Chile in the Confederations Cup final after romping to victory over Mexico in Sochi.
Leon Goretzka's early double sent Jogi Low's men on their way to a routine victory, with Timo Werner and Amin Younes sealing the win in the second half.
Goretzka struck twice in under two minutes as Germany got off to a flying start, but Mexico put up a stern fight and were perhaps unlucky not to get one back before the break.
But when Werner tapped home from Jonas Hector's square ball halfway through the second period, the game was over.
Marco Fabian smashed home a consolation for Mexico in the closing moments - only to see Younes go
straight down the other end and restore Germany's three-goal advantage.
Germany XI: Ter Stegen; Kimmich, Ginter, Rudiger; Henrichs, Rudy, Goretzka, Hector; Stindl, Draxler; Werner
Mexico XI: Ochoa; Layún, Moreno, Araújo, Alanís; Jiménez, J. dos Santos, Herrera; G. dos Santos, Aquino, Hernández

Familiar failings for Mexico

Cast your mind back to the last World Cup.
In the last 16, Mexico were minutes away from dumping out Holland, leading 1-0.
Then, conceding an equaliser proved the death knell, as they collapsed defensively and suffered a sucker punch soon after to end their World Cup hopes.
Here, Goretzka’s opener should have been a sign to El Tri to get together, get tight, and offer no more encouragement.
They didn’t. Within less than 90 seconds, they’d conceded another. From then, the game was done.

Another role for Kimmich

It’s little wonder Pep Guardiola loves Joshua Kimmich so much.
A midfielder by trade, he’s been Germany’s No.1 right-back for the past 16 months or so, but here, Low played him further back, as one of three centre-halves.
Being at the heart of defence is nothing new for the Bayern starlet, having often played there under Guardiola during his final season in Bavaria.
Is there anywhere he can’t play?

Draxler dazzling with free reign

Julian Draxler was perhaps the surprise choice of captain for Low’s side in this tournament, but he has really stepped his game up and led by example.
With Germany reverting to a back three, the PSG star has been given freedom to pretty much go and do as he feels; whether he fancies drifting left, right, joining Werner up top or picking up the ball off his own centre-halves, he’s been given that freedom.
And, he has starred. No bones about it, he has been the outstanding player in this German side and Mexico could get close to his technique nor his intelligence.
Is it a sign of things to come in 12 months time?

Werner doing his best to be loved

Werner hasn’t been the most popular of Germany’s young stars with supporters in recent months.
The RB Leipzig striker scored 21 times in the Bundesliga last season, rejuvenated with the German upstarts after his time at Stuttgart had turned sour.
But being caught blatantly diving to win a penalty against Schalke pre-Christmas saw him become public enemy No.1.
His international debut against England saw him booed back in March, but in Russia he has found his feet.
The 21-year-old has bagged three goals, and offers Die Mannschaft a threat in behind opposing defences. His movement is regularly excellent, he’s grown stronger over the last 12 months and in a post-Miroslav Klose era, is doing as much as anyone to be Low’s No.9 next summer.

Goretzka does his position the world of good

Leon Goretzka is seen in Germany as one of the coming stars for the national side, and enjoyed his best season at Schalke last term, seemingly fully over previous injury problems.
The 22-year-old has just one year left on his deal at the Veltins Arena, and amid interest from Bayern and Premier League sides, this was an excellent performance showing his power, quality and eye for goal.
Schalke are hoping to keep him and hand him a new deal, but will be asking in excess of £25million if Goretzka decides on a new challenge.
Either way, he’s done his position no harm in Sochi.

Short report: Germany 4-1 Chile

Germany will face Chile in the Confederations Cup final after romping to victory over Mexico in Sochi.
Leon Goretzka’s early double sent Jogi Low’s men on their way to a routine victory, with Timo Werner and Amin Younes sealing the win in the second half.
Goretzka struck twice in under two minutes as Germany got off to a flying start, but Mexico put up a stern fight and were perhaps unlucky not to get one back before the break.
But when Werner tapped home from Jonas Hector’s square ball halfway through the second period, the game was over.
Marco Fabian smashed home a consolation for Mexico in the closing moments - only to see Younes go straight down the other end and restore Germany’s three-goal advantage.

FT Germany 4-1 Mexico

A bit of a manic end, but Germany have done the business is Sochi this evening.
An early double from Goretzka was followed up by a tap-in from Werner.
Fabian’s long-range strike was too little too late for Mexico, before Younes put the icing on the cake.
It’s Chile vs Germany in Sunday’s final!

GOAL! Younes makes it 4-1

As Mexico committed men forward, Germany took full advantage.
Werner, Brandt and Can all involved in the build-up but it is played to Younes who slots home across Ochoa.
Any late fears for Germany well and truly abolished.

GOAL! Screamer from Fabian!

Mexico have their reward!
It’s a stunning strike from Fabian, who smashes home from nearly 30 yards out.
A quick free-kick is rolled to him and he lets rip from distance. What a goal!

88'

57 per cent possession.
21 shots on goal.
10 corners
But it’s still not enough for Mexico. They have been outclassed by Germany despite dominating all of those fields.
As said earlier in this blog, it is scary to think that this is perhaps a third-choice Germany team.

Mexico are doing their best to have fun in the closing stages of the game.
They are throwing men forward in the hope that they can get something to show for their efforts this evening.
Ter Stegen remains awake and is looking unlikely to be beaten.

Can’t lie, this game has all gone a bit flat since Germany got their third goal.
The pace has slowed considerably and the chances are few and far between.
Hector Herrera has just fired an effort wildly over the bar from distance.
Germany very much coasting to victory despite a few shaky moments in the first-half.

 

Off the bar for Mexico!
They have had their chances this evening and it is Jimenez who comes close.
His looping header is over Ter Stegen but it can’t quite dip underneath the crossbar.

Emre Can has his first chance to burst forward with the ball but he can’t get past the last defender.
Draxler tries to go one better just 30 seconds later - but his effort is directly at Ochoa.

A few handbags between Rudiger and Hernandez and the situation is calmed down by the referee.
Rudiger has asked the referee for a VAR review on the incident but it’s not coming.
A few quiet words are enough for that one to die down.

There won’t be a hat-trick for Goretzka this evening.
He has been replaced by Can of Liverpool.
A fine shift from the Schalke man. Without his early strikes this would not be half as comfortable as it is for Germany.

Lively introduction from Fabian.
This time he’s tried to bend an effort into the far top corner from 20 yards and the ball fizzes past the post.
Hernandez isn’t happy, as he thought he could have been slid in for a simple tap-in.

Chance for Mexico to get themselves back into the game as Fabian, who has just replaces Giovani, almost scores with his first kick of the game.
The ball falls to him at a tight angle and Ter Stegen made himself big and he could subsequently only find the side netting.

GOAL! Werner makes it three!

Draxler plays the ball into Hector, who squares past the advancing Ochoa to Werner, who taps into the open goal.
A little question over the offside but replays show that the officials were correct.
Game, set, match.

Comfortable save for Ochoa as Draxler attempts to bend home a free-kick from 25 yards.
The effort is low and doesn’t have enough power to challenge the Granada goalkeeper.

Big penalty shout for Germany as Werner gets shove in the back from Moreno.
He tries to stay on his feet and drags his effort wide of the post, but surely there is no advantage there?
He asks the referee after regaining his footing but the official says no.
Replays appear to show a clear foul - but he should have gone down straight away. A little too honest, perhaps.

Mexico find themselves three on two but the pass to Jimenez isn’t great and he has to readjust.
He cuts inside but can only fire into Ter Stegen’s chest.

Corner for Mexico comes to nothing as Jimenez heads the ball on at the front post but Hernandez can’t readjust himself quick enough to direct his effort under the bar.
First sniff for the CONCACAF Gold Cup champions of this half.

Germany will be happy with their start to the second half.
The possession has pretty much exclusively been theirs and they’ve had a half chance as Werner closed down Ochoa.