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World Cup 2018 memes: Mexico stuns Germany; Brazil pops a balloon

Doggone it, there were a lot of Chihuahua vs. German Shepherd jokes. And then there was the red balloon.

Gael Cooper
CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of "Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the '70s and '80s," as well as "The Totally Sweet '90s." She's been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She's Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she'll be first in line.
Expertise Breaking news, entertainment, lifestyle, travel, food, shopping and deals, product reviews, money and finance, video games, pets, history, books, technology history, generational studies. Credentials
  • Co-author of two Gen X pop-culture encyclopedia for Penguin Books. Won "Headline Writer of the Year"​ award for 2017, 2014 and 2013 from the American Copy Editors Society. Won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism.
Gael Cooper

It's always satisfying to beat a defending champ, and on Sunday it was Mexico's turn, as it stunned Germany 1-0 in the 2018 World Cup tournament on a first-half goal by Hirving Lozano.

The victory shocked many: Germany has won its opening game in the last seven World Cups.

Mexican fans, and there were many new ones after this game, were quick to celebrate on social media. Doggone it, there were a lot of jokes involving tiny Chihuahas, a national symbol of Mexico, beating up larger, tougher German Shepherds.

In Sunday's early game, Serbia beat Costa Rica 1-0. This game didn't involve the defending champs going down, and it earned a lot less social-media attention.

In the day's final game, World Cup powerhouse Brazil and superstar Neymar took on Switzerland. The game ended in a 1-1 tie, disappointing Brazilian fans who always count on their team to win.

But Neymar's hair didn't disappoint. Fans compared it to everything from the coif of the late George Michael of Wham to a cup of noodles.

The game produced controversy over the new video assistant referee system, introduced for the first time this World Cup.

But when a giant red balloon landed in front of Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker (known as simply Alisson), he gave it a winning stomp, and created a new meme.

First published June 17, 11:21 a.m. PT
Update, 2:21 p.m.: Adds info on the Brazil-Switzerland game.