World Cup

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Attendance: 78,011

World Cup | Group Stage

Jun 17, 2018 at 4pm UK

Germany
0-1
Mexico

FT(HT: 0-1)

Lozano (35')

Joachim Low: 'Difficult to defend World Cup'

By Matt Law, Football Editor

Published: June 16 2018 | 22:27

Last updated: June 16 2018 | 22:31

Germany boss Joachim Low accepts that it will be difficult for his team to defend the World Cup this summer, but is quietly confident of challenging.

Germany boss Joachim Low has accepted that it will be difficult for his team to defend the World Cup this summer, but has said that the 2014 champions have 'the ambition and hunger' to challenge once again.

Die Mannschaft beat Argentina in the final of the 2014 World Cup, and will begin their 2018 challenge against Mexico in Moscow on Sunday afternoon.

No nation has landed back-to-back World Cups since Brazil triumphed in 1958 and 1962. Low, however, is keen to just focus on his team's Group F opener against Mexico.

"Defending the title is the hardest thing, history has shown us that. Nobody has won two in a row for a long time," Low told reporters at a press conference. "But our ambition and our hunger is always there.

"There is no bigger event for a player than the World Cup finals. We cannot get ahead of ourselves, we first have to send a message by winning this first game. Mexico have a dangerous front three, it will be a big test for our defence. As always, we want to win our first game, but Mexico are a difficult opponent."

Low, meanwhile, has declared both Manuel Neuer and Mesut Ozil fit for the Mexico fixture.