Manuel Neuer powerless to stop Mexico as El Tri beat Germany in Bayern Munich goalkeeper’s return to soccer at World Cup
PSV Eindhoven’s in-demand Hirving Lozano scores the only goal of the game as holders suffer shock defeat in Moscow
The giant Bayern stopper has been sidelined since fracturing a bone in his left foot last September in a recurrence of an injury he suffered earlier in 2017.
Neuer’s return to the national side was carefully stage-managed – two games were set up behind closed doors just to give him match practise – and it was no surprise when he was announced as the number one for Russia.
Wearing a blue jersey, with a bright green captain’s armband, Neuer led his team out onto the pitch in front of 80,000 people at the Luzhniki Stadium, hugging his defenders before clapping the massed ranks of flag-waving German fans behind the goal.
The 32-year-old was first called into action in the second minute, pouncing to smother the ball after it was whipped into the box from a Mexican corner.