Chicharito: Germany win not historic, just a step toward World Cup title

Mexico is enjoying its 1-0 victory over Germany in the first Group F match of the 2018 World Cup, but forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez was among the players cautioning against reading too much into the first game.
While El Tri now are on the path to winning the group – and potentially avoiding a clash with Brazil which is in Group E – they still have to face South Korea and Sweden to close out the group.
The win over Germany is a result Mexicans won’t forget for some time, but the 29-year-old forward downplayed its importance in Mexican soccer history.
“I don’t think it’s historic because how’s it going to help us if we lose against Korea, against Sweden and we go home to Mexico? We’re taking it calmly,” he said.
“The objective is to get to the World Cup final. So, it’s a step, a very important step, very good, a big step, an energy boost and a boost in confidence. We’ve worked for three years against everything, so we’re staying calm. It’s World Cup. Nobody comes here to just win the first game.”
While Chicharito already was ready to shift the focus to the June 23 game against South Korea, other players were more open to enjoying a victory – the first time in history Mexico has toppled Germany.
“I think so,” defender Jesus Gallardo said when asked if it was the most historic victory for Mexico in its World Cup history. “Today was a great game. We were able to dream and believe in ourselves and beat the champion of the world.”
The jury remained out, with goal-scoring hero Hirving Lozano saying: “I don’t know if it is the biggest victory in [Mexican] history but one of the biggest for sure. It is great to start on the right foot when you are playing against the world champions.”
After the match against South Korea in Rostov-on-Don, Mexico closes out group play against Sweden on June 27 in Yekaterinburg.