v England, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, 12.06.1985
0-3 (0-1)
Brehme pen 41. / Robson 34., Dixon 54., 67.
Germany lined up against England in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca having virtually just got off the plane, and after a spirited start wilted in the heat and rarefied atmosphere against an England side that had already been in Mexico for two weeks.
After Bryan Robson had given the Three Lions the lead on thirty-four minutes, Franz Beckenbauer’s side had an almost immediate chance to get themselves back into the game when they were awarded a penalty seven minutes later – only for England ‘keeper Peter Shilton to keep out Andreas Brehme’s well-placed but weak spot-kick.
Whatever spark of enthusiasm there was in the German side was more or less extinguished early in the second half when Kerry Dixon extended England’s lead, and when the Chelsea striker scored his second with fourteen minutes left it was a simple case of conserving energy and going through the motions. It was England’s first win over Germany in almost a decade and the Nationalmannschaft’s biggest defeat against English opposition since 1938, but neither side was making a big deal out of it.
A more in-depth match report can be found in the Das Duell: Germany v England section.
Germany: Schumacher (c) – Th. Berthold, Herget, D. Jakobs, Augenthaler, Brehme – Matthäus, Magath (60. Thon), U. Rahn – Littbarski (73. Waas), Mill
England: Shilton – Stevens, Butcher, Sansom, Wright – Hoddle, Robson (Bracewell), Waddle, Reid – Lineker (60. Barnes), Dixon
Referee: Jorge Alberto Leanza Sansone (Mexico)
Yellow Cards: – / –
Red Cards: – / –
Attendance: 8,000
v Mexico, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, 15.06.1985
0-2 (0-1)
– / Negrete 3., pen 17., Flores 46.
Although they had an outside chance of topping the three-team mini-group, the German players were mentally on their way home when they took on hosts Mexico in their second match. Within three minutes the Mannschaft were behind, when Tomás Boy’s corner floated into the box, eluding the entire German defence and replacement ‘keeper Uli Stein. The ball went stright to the unmarked Manuel Negrete at the far post, and he made no mistake with what was a simple header.
It could have been worse just moments later when Andreas Brehme was dreadfully late in his attempt to challenge Luis Flores in the box that left English referee Keith Hackett no choice but to award a penalty, but Negrete’s low and well-directed spot-kick was brilliantly turned around the right post by the sprawling Stein.
Mexico continued to press, and perhaps should have been well out of sight by half-time: after Klaus Augenthaler made up for a loose Brehme pass by crudely upending Flores, Negrete’s free-kick crashed against the woodwork with Stein completely beaten.
Less than thirty seconds into the second half, Mexico scored their second goal. After gaining possession in midfield, the hard-working Tomás Boy played out a superb ball to Flores on the right. The Mexican striker waited for Schumacher to come at him, and calmly stroked the ball past the German ‘keeper to put the seal on what was a deserved 2-0 win. In much the same way as England’s 3-0 win over Germany had flattered the Three Lions, this 2-0 defeat flattered Franz Beckenbauer’s side – it could very easily have finished four or five-nil.
The body language of the German team was unmistakable – it was fairly obvious to even the most casual observer that they would rather have been somewhere else. In the space of two months, a team that had been boldly described by Kicker magazine as “world class” were looking like a bunch of spiritless no-hopers.
Germany: U. Stein – Matthäus, Augenthaler (65. Frontzeck), D. Jakobs, Brehme – U. Rahn, Herget, Magath (c) – Mill, Völler, Kögl
Mexico: Heredia – Trejo, Quirarte, Cruz, Amador – de los Cobos, España, Negrete (73. Domínguez), Boy (77. Hermosillo) – Aguirre, Flores
Referee: Keith Hackett (England)
Yellow Cards: – / Trejo
Red Cards: – / –
Attendance: 28,000
Final Tournament Table
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mexico | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 4 |
 | England | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 2 |
 | Germany FR | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
Other result: Mexico 1-0 England.
Following El Tri’s earlier 1-0 win against England, the hosts topped the three-team table with the maximum tally of four points. Bottom of the pile were Franz Beckenbauer’s German side, who had failed to bother the scorers while conceding five. Fortunately, their return to Mexico the following year would be far more productive.