Germany v Mexico - Preview and possible lineups

Germany:

'Die Mannschaft' will be able to count on the services of Mesut Ozil, who has recovered from a knee problem that kept him out of Germany's final friendly against Saudi Arabia. That being said, it remains to be seen whether Joachim Low will start him from the first minute.

Manuel Neuer is expected to start, however, while Low faces the decision of starting either Julian Draxler or Marco Reus on the left wing.

Mexico:

There was a late blow for 'El Tri', as defender Diego Reyes had to drop out of the squad through a hamstring injury. Reyes, who joins fellow key defender Nestor Araujo on the sidelines, was replaced by Erick Gutierrez in the 23-man travelling party.

Germany boss Joachim Low:

Low was asked about the achievement of winning two World Cup trophies in a row, which Germany have a chance to do in Russia. For him, it's a very tricky task.

"It is the hardest feat and history has demonstrated that because each team evolves," he said. "At the end of a World Cup, players retire and you have to integrate new players but in terms of the ambition and the hunger, that is clearly there. There is no greater event for a player to play than a World Cup.

"But it's important to focus on each individual match, rather than think three weeks ahead."

Mexico boss Juan Carlos Osorio​:

“If we are going to play in a neutral stadium, with everything that is around the World Cup then I think Mexico can win against Germany,”  Osorio said, speaking on Saturday.

"We are going to give everything we have and we have versatile players."

"Today there are players who play in other positions and they are doing well, which gives us the great possibility of having a plan B and even a plan C."

Did you know?

Mexico have only defeated Germany once, in a friendly in 1985. Of their other ten international meetings, Germany have won five and drawn five.

If Germany do manage to win the trophy in Russia, they will become the second team to ever win back-to-back World Cups, after Italy in 1934 and 1938. 

Form:

Possible lineups:

Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Boateng, Hummels, Hector; Khedira, Kroos; Reus, Muller, Reus; Werner.

Mexico: Ochoa; Salcedo, Ayala, Moreno, Gallardo; Herrera, Guardado, Santos; Vela, Lozano, Jimenez.