Germany to start FIFA World Cup campaign vs Mexico
Moscow, June 16: Defending champions Germany will kick-off their title defence when they take on Mexico in a Group F match of the FIFA 2018 World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium here on Sunday.
In their previous 11 meetings, Germany have won six times while the South Americans managed just a single win.
Germany passed the qualification stage with ease as they won all their ten games, thus becoming the first team to win all their qualification matches.
The Manuel Neuer-led side however, haven't been at their best this year as Germany managed to win just one of their four international friendlies in 2018. While they defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1, they suffered losses against Brazil and Austria.
The biggest concern for Germany was the fitness of their star players Manuel Neuer and Jerome Boateng. Later, Neuer recovered from a serious foot injury to be fit for the mega event.
Germany's defence will witness Boateng and Mats Hummels as the duo's role will be crucial on Sunday. On the other hand, Jonas Hector and Joshua Kimmich will form the full backs while Sami Khedira and Toni Kroos will feature in the midfield.
The attacking lineup will be formed by striker Timo Werner, Thomas Muller on the right flank and Mesut Ozil.
On the other side, Mexico too, have a settled squad.
Jesus Gallardo and Miguel Layun are likely to be the full-backs on the left and right sides, respectively. Mexico's defence will feature Hector Moreno and Hugo Ayala, who form a formidable partnership.
With the likes of Hector Herrera and Andres Guardado, Mexico's biggest strength lies in the midfield. The duo will be supported by either Jonathan dos Santos or Marco Fabian, who ever gets a chance in Sunday's game.
Hirving Lozano, Carlos Vela, Giovani dos Santos and Oribe Peralta will lead the Mexican attack. Also, Javier Hernandez and Raul Jimenez are the other two contenders for the striker's slot.
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Cong may crack whip against Khan for his "racist" slur against Kumaraswamy, indicates Paramaeshwara
Mysuru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday indicated that the state Congress may initiate disciplinary proceedings against Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan for referring to Union Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy as “Kaalia” (dark-skinned), which the NDA had slammed as a "racist" slur.
Several Congress office-bearers have been pushing the party to crack the whip against Khan, a lawmaker from Chamarajpet, accusing him of causing damage and embarrassment to the party.
"Our state Congress President (D K Shivakumar), after the by-polls, has said that his (Khan's) statement had its impact on the election. There is a disciplinary committee in the party under (K) Rahman Khan (former Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha). If the party president refers the matter to the disciplinary committee, they may call Khan and inquire him," Parameshwara said to a question on the impact of the Minister's statement on by-polls
Speaking to reporters here, he said: "if the matter is serious in nature the committee may recommend action against him."
Many Congress leaders and those in the political circles believe that Khan's statement had an adverse impact on the party's prospects in the Channapatna Assembly segment, which went for by-polls along with Shiggaon and Sandur seats on November 13. The results will be declared on November 23.
Khan had made those comments, during the campaigning in Channapatna, where Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy is the joint candidate of BJP-JD(S) alliance.
He had also claimed that the Muslim community had enough strength to raise funds to “buy” Kumaraswamy’s family.
Former PM and veteran politician H D Deve Gowda is Kumaraswamy's father.
Khan's comments had also come under intense criticism from the Vokkaliga community to which the Gowda family belongs to.
Channapatna Congress candidate C P Yogeeshwara too, after the voting, had lamented that Khan's controversial statements might have had an adverse impact on his high-stakes battle in the Vokkaliga dominated constituency.
With his comments becoming a major controversy, Khan last week tendered an apology.
