If it looked like Mexico played with more fire in its spirit than Germany did in El Tri's 1-0 victory over the defending world champions, it might have been because the team had a bit of early-morning motivation.
German newspaper Die Welt tried to taunt their World Cup opponents with a Donald Trump reference on the front page.
German newspaper @welt's front page:
— عمر (@omarfoudil) June 17, 2018
"Sorry, Mexico
Today WE build the wall!"#GERMEX #WorldCup #WM2018 #GER #MEX pic.twitter.com/e3dYF7xTIR
The headline reads, “Sorry, Mexico. Today we build the wall." The front page also features German keeper Manuel Neuer saying “And we’ll rub it in after the final whistle.”
The joke, of course, backfired thanks to a counter-attack goal from Hirving "Chucky" Lozano.
One of President Trump's signature campaign pledges before his 2016 election was to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. This isn't the first time this promise has been used as a taunt. In April 2016, the New York Daily News reported high schoolers chanted "Donald Trump, build that wall!" at the black and Latina players of the opposing girls soccer team.