Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 6y

Mexico must refocus at World Cup after historic win vs. Germany -- Hernandez

MOSCOW -- Mexico striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez shed tears of joy after El Tri's 1-0 upset win against Germany in its opening game of the World Cup, but he won't be celebrating or dwelling on the victory for long.

Mexico's leading career goal scorer was captured on TV crying on the final whistle but said after the game that while the win brings Mexico a "big boost" moving forward in the tournament, the team won't be getting carried away by the result.

"Tomorrow we will start thinking about [South] Korea because this World Cup is not only about the opening game," Hernandez said. "We want to get to the final of the World Cup, and we have to take it step by step."

Mexico goal scorer Hirving Lozano, whose strike caused a small tremor on the Richter scale in Mexico City, ostensibly from fans jumping in celebration, was named man of the match. He said the win, the first against Germany in a World Cup by Mexico, highlighted the team's quality.

"We can compete against anyone," Lozano told Televisa Deportes. "We have great players, and we showed it today"

"After this score, we can say that this generation of players is here to achieve big things. We did our best today, and we have to continue on the same path."

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made a key save in the 39th minute -- one of nine in the match -- from a Toni Kroos free kick and stressed that the surprise three points for Mexico was historic.

"It was a very important game for Mexican football, for Mexican history because starting the World Cup against the world champion and winning three points was something that very few people expected," said Ochoa after the game.

"Whenever you play against world powers, champions and potential champions, it's a little special," Ochoa added. "In the last World Cup we played against Brazil, and now playing against the world champion like Germany, with the players it has, is never easy.

"But today we deserved to win for what we showed, ran and gave."

Mexico is scheduled to train at its complex outside of Moscow on Monday morning in preparation for its match against Korea on June 23 in Rostov.

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