And there is the whistle for the end of the first half. A thoroughly enjoyable 45 minutes of action, but Germany go in with the lead.

They pounced on Marcelo Diaz's error with Lars Stindl tapping in after Timo Werner had played it past Claudio Bravo.

For Chile it is a half of what might have been. They created numerous chances, but have failed to take any of them.

Germany are 45 minutes from the trophy.

Great going forward, panicking like crazy at the back. Yet again Chile gift Germany an opportunity with the guilty finger this time pointing at defender Gonzalo Jara.

The Germans counter and Julian Draxler sends it to Leon Goretzka. However, the Schalke man doesn't trust his left foot and pulls it back on to his right. That gives Claudio Bravo a few more seconds to close the angle and he is well positioned to block the resulting shot.

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Chile are great on the eye. This time with the ball near the corner flag, Mauricio Isla slides in to win the ball and knocks it back to Eduardo Vargas, who whips in a first-time cross and Alexis Sanchez can only head the ball straight up instead of at goal and goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen mops up the danger.

How about this for a stat?

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We've checked this out and it stacks up.

The last time Germany lost a competitive match after scoring the first goal was against the Czech Republic at Euro 2004.

The group match ended 2-1 - and ended Germany's participation in the tournament - with Michael Ballack getting the opener, only for Marek Heinz and Milos Baros to turn it around.

Germany captain Julian Draxler comes close to doubling his side's lead, but can only shoot wide from 20 yards out.

Easiest? Probably. Most important? Definitely.

Nearly another sucker-punch and nearly a two-goal lead for Germany. Marcelo Diaz, the man at fault for Germany's opener, is again to blame as he is robbed by Sebastian Rudy who provides a perfectly-weighted pass that Leon Goretzka can run on to.

He shoots low, first time across goal and has Claudio Bravo panicking in the Chile goal. Luckily for Bravo and unluckily for Goretzka the ball zips past the far post. Great effort.

Chile have another crack, their 12th at goal, and once again Arturo Vidal is free outside the box. He is 25 yards out and given enough time to shoot.

But the ball is stuck a bit under his feet and he can only scoop it over the crossbar.

Twelve attempts at goal, but only three on target. Two attempts from Germany, one on target, one goal. Ruthless.

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There's a couple of BIG footballing legends in St Petersburg. Big in a couple of senses.

Argentina's Diego Maradona and Brazil's Ronaldo - there's a lot of love right there.

Chile are looking dangerous down the right flank as Alexis Sanchez gives it to Arturo Vidal.

He crosses powerfully to the back post and Marcelo Diaz, eager to make up for his goal-conceding error, throws himself at the ball but can't make contact with what would have been a spectacular header.

Nii‏: Cruel. Very cruel. that's the game of football. Play all you can, the opponent puts the ball in your goal from just a mistake.

Wale Ibraheem: What a horrendous touch by Diaz! How best to shot yourself on the foot, Chile.

Tom McQuillin: That goal should be forever used as the definition of 'against the run of play'.

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Chile are playing some lovely football, yet the only stat that matters is the fact they are 1-0 down. Mauricio Isla links up with Charles Aranguiz, but no-one can get on the end of an enticing cross.

So, so close. Alexis Sanchez looks on course to score, but is denied by Germany.

But it is not long before Chile are on the attack again. They are in a good position, and earn a corner, but it is a disappointing one from Alexis Sanchez, who can't get it past the near post. A waste.

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A first half-chance for the Europeans, and it falls to the returning Shkodran Mustafi, but the Arsenal man can only head over the top from a right-wing corner.

Germany are on the ropes at the moment. Chile gain the ball in a decent position again, this time with German defensive midfielder Leon Goretzka losing the ball 30 yards out.

Eduardo Vargas fires a powerful shot 25 yards out but Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is well positioned and shows his good handling skills to hold on to the strike.

Will Chile pay the penalty for failing to convert their early dominance into a goal?

And add another Chile shot off target to the figures.

Alexis Sanchez is again involved with a lay-off to Eduardo Vargas. The technique is good from Vargas, cutting across the ball from 25 yards, and the shot is dipping but not dipping enough and is just over the top.

Ten minutes in. All Chile so far..

Nii: Every time I watch Sanchez playing, I get the impression he wants to carry the whole world on his shoulders. Please just be a team player.

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