FIFA WC: Mexico stuns Germany 1-0 in opener

Moscow: Hirving Lozano's first-half strike saw Mexico stun defending champions Germany 1-0 in a thrill-packed Group F opener here on Sunday.

Germany laid siege to a tiring Mexico's penalty area in the final 20 minutes but could not find a way past Guillermo Ochoa, despite substitute Julian Brandt's late strike clipping the post.

Hirving Lozano's brilliant goal in the 35th minute gave Mexico a 1-0 lead at half-time, and they defended the  goal till the end to post a memorable win over the four-time champions.

When German centre back Mats Hummels lost possession deep in the Mexican half, Javier Hernandez was released through the middle. He outpaced Jerome Boateng and with a less than perfect pass found Lozano, who controlled the ball, cut inside Mesut Ozil, held off a charging Toni Kroos and slotted coolly past Manuel Neuer.

At the other end, Guillermo Ochoa tipped a blistering Kroos free kick on to the bar minutes later, in what was to prove the Germans' closest effort of a match in Moscow in which they had more than 60 percent possession but could not make it count.

Germany pressed in the second half but struggled to find the target. Osorio beefed up his defences to hang on, pulling off Lozano with a quarter of an hour left and sending in 39-year-old Rafael Marquez at the back to become the third man ever to play in five World Cups.(UNI)

FIFA :  Serbia beat Costa Rica by 1-0

Samara:Serbia beat Costa Rica by 1-0 in the opening World Cup Group E match in the Samara Arena on Sunday. Captain Aleksandar Kolarov in the 56th minute scored a goal and secured a 1-0 victory for Serbia.

The defender hit the ball with his left foot and into the top right corner of the net past an outstreched Keylor Navas to break the stalemate after an evenly-matched first half.

Costa Rica, had earlier reached the quarter-finals in 2014, struggled to make chances for an equaliser as Serbia shut down their attack and came close to scoring again several times. 

Serbia have won their opening game at a World Cup tournament for the first time since 1998, when they did so as Yugoslavia against Iran.

Brazil held to 1-1 draw by Switzerland in Group E opener

A second-half header from Steven Zuber cancelled out a sensational early goal from Philippe Coutinho as Switzerland and Brazil drew 1-1 in a tight Group E World Cup opener on Sunday.

With 20 minutes gone, Coutinho gathered a clearance 25 yards from goal and curled a marvellous shot into the far corner off the post to give the five-times world champions the lead.

However, Switzerland, who had looked toothless throughout the first half, got back on level terms five minutes into the second period when Zuber rose unmarked to head home a corner kick. Coutinho had Brazil's best chance after the break but shot wide.

The result means that Serbia lead Group E after beating Costa Rica 1-0 earlier in the day.