The fault lines in Germany's defence have been there for all to see in recent games and Sunday's World Cup defeat by Mexico should not really be seen as a surprise, defender Mats Hummels said after the defending champions went down 1-0 in Moscow.
"Mexico deserved the win. Our cover was often not good and we were left many times with just Jerome (Boateng) and myself in the back," said centre back Hummels, one of several Germans who will not want to watch a replay of Hirving Lozano's 36th-minute goal.
"We were warned days ago (in the warm-up games). We played exactly like we did against Saudi Arabia (when Germany won 2-1) only against a better opponent. That's why the first half was like it was and Mexico obviously deserved to win it."
Germany were exposed again and again by Mexico's counter-attacking, and if they had been more accurate with their final pass then they would not have had to endure the tense finale as the holders threw everything forward.
Did Germany ignore Hummels' warnings?
"If seven or eight players are attacking then it is clear that our attacking power is greater," said Hummels. "But that is something that I have often talked about internally. It does not always bear fruit."
Toni Kroos recognised that Germany, the ultimate tournament team, were now facing an unusual situation. "We are now under pressure, we have to get six points from the next games," he said.
"We did not do it well. Overall we had our chances but did not score. We just lost the ball up front far too easily, and Mexico had always two or three people up front whom we failed to block efficiently."
