Germany got their EURO 2016 campaign off to a winning start on Sunday night, beating Ukraine 2-0. Shkodran Mustafi opened the scoring on 19 minutes, heading in for his first international goal, while substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger wrapped up the three points deep into second-half stoppage time. As a result, Die Mannschaft pushed Poland off top spot in Group C, with Robert Lewandowski & Co. having beaten Northern Ireland 1-0 earlier in the day.
Joachim Löw opted for 10 World Champions in his starting line-up. The captain's armband was worn by Manuel Neuer in goal. Benedikt Höwedes, Jérôme Boateng, Shkodran Mustafi and Jonas Hector formed the back four, with Sami Khedira and Toni Kroos were ahead of them in holding midfield. Mario Götze led the line, with Thomas Müller, Mesut Özil and Julian Draxler behind him.
First chances go to Draxler and Hector
There were no signs of early nerves from Germany, as Götze fed Draxler to produce the first chance of the match after four minutes, but the Wolfsburg attacker’s shot was blocked. Ukraine had an opportunity of their own just 60 seconds later though. Yarmolenko’s cross found Konoplyanka in the centre and his volley required a fine save from Neuer to keep the scores level.
Germany opted for a fast passing game after that, allowing them to bypass the Ukraine midfield and create more space. A quick move in that vein that saw Draxler get up the left flank and cross into the middle, where Müller was able to head to ball down towards Hector, but the left back met a volley with his weaker right foot and wasn’t able to trouble the goalkeeper.
First international goal for Mustafi
Seven minutes later though, Die Mannschaft and the thousands of Germany fans at the Stade Nord Lille Metropole were able to celebrate the team’s first goal at EURO 2016. Müller won a free kick that Kroos delivered into the mixer, where Mustafi climbed highest to head the ball into the top corner past a helpless Pyatov. It was the Valencia defender’s first goal for Germany in what was his eleventh senior appearance.
Sami Khedira had the first chance to double the World Champions’ lead, getting on the end of a stunning ball from Toni Kroos and firing at goal, but the Ukraine keeper was equal to the shot and pushed it behind at full stretch. Then it was Neuer back in the spotlight, as he reacted brilliantly to fingertip a Khacheridi header from a corner over the crossbar. Ukraine enjoyed their best spell as the half-time whistle approached and almost levelled the scores through a Boateng own goal, but the Bayern centre back did superbly to recover and hook the ball off the line.
Kroos strikes the crossbar
Germany regained the upper hand when the sides returned for the second half and an effort from Draxler after three minutes only narrowly missed the target. Toni Kroos also came close, as his 18-yard thunderbolt rattled the crossbar. There was little to see from Ukraine in the second period, although a free kick from Rakitsky had Neuer sprawling to push it wide around the hour mark.
Die Mannschaft continued to apply pressure and Khedira had another chance to double the advantage, but once more he found an impressive Pyatov in the way. Götze and then Müller also had chances, but the Ukrainian no.1 was again on hand on both occasions.
Schweinsteiger crowns his return
Löw made his first change twelve minutes before time, bringing on André Schürrle for Julian Draxler, and the former Chelsea attacker almost made an instant impact, but his shot from just inside the box flew narrowly past the target. Mesut Özil then had a fantastic chance to wrap up the result in a one-on-one, but it was Pyatov who came out on top once more.
Die Mannschaft then had a heart-in-mouth moment at the back, when a misunderstanding between Mustafi and Neuer saw the goalscorer head the ball over the top of the Germany keeper, but the ball fortunately dropped wide of the post. It was soon forgotten about though, as substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger latched onto the end of a pinpoint Özil cross to sweep the ball home and wrap up a 2-0 win.
Next up for Germany is a meeting with Poland in Saint-Denis on Thursday, again at 21:00 CEST. Fellow Group C sides Ukraine and Northern Ireland meet earlier in the day, with kick-off at 18:00 CEST.
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Germany got their EURO 2016 campaign off to a winning start on Sunday night, beating Ukraine 2-0. Shkodran Mustafi opened the scoring on 19 minutes, heading in for his first international goal, while substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger wrapped up the three points deep into second-half stoppage time. As a result, Die Mannschaft pushed Poland off top spot in Group C, with Robert Lewandowski & Co. having beaten Northern Ireland 1-0 earlier in the day.
Joachim Löw opted for 10 World Champions in his starting line-up. The captain's armband was worn by Manuel Neuer in goal. Benedikt Höwedes, Jérôme Boateng, Shkodran Mustafi and Jonas Hector formed the back four, with Sami Khedira and Toni Kroos were ahead of them in holding midfield. Mario Götze led the line, with Thomas Müller, Mesut Özil and Julian Draxler behind him.
First chances go to Draxler and Hector
There were no signs of early nerves from Germany, as Götze fed Draxler to produce the first chance of the match after four minutes, but the Wolfsburg attacker’s shot was blocked. Ukraine had an opportunity of their own just 60 seconds later though. Yarmolenko’s cross found Konoplyanka in the centre and his volley required a fine save from Neuer to keep the scores level.
Germany opted for a fast passing game after that, allowing them to bypass the Ukraine midfield and create more space. A quick move in that vein that saw Draxler get up the left flank and cross into the middle, where Müller was able to head to ball down towards Hector, but the left back met a volley with his weaker right foot and wasn’t able to trouble the goalkeeper.
First international goal for Mustafi
Seven minutes later though, Die Mannschaft and the thousands of Germany fans at the Stade Nord Lille Metropole were able to celebrate the team’s first goal at EURO 2016. Müller won a free kick that Kroos delivered into the mixer, where Mustafi climbed highest to head the ball into the top corner past a helpless Pyatov. It was the Valencia defender’s first goal for Germany in what was his eleventh senior appearance.
Sami Khedira had the first chance to double the World Champions’ lead, getting on the end of a stunning ball from Toni Kroos and firing at goal, but the Ukraine keeper was equal to the shot and pushed it behind at full stretch. Then it was Neuer back in the spotlight, as he reacted brilliantly to fingertip a Khacheridi header from a corner over the crossbar. Ukraine enjoyed their best spell as the half-time whistle approached and almost levelled the scores through a Boateng own goal, but the Bayern centre back did superbly to recover and hook the ball off the line.
Kroos strikes the crossbar
Germany regained the upper hand when the sides returned for the second half and an effort from Draxler after three minutes only narrowly missed the target. Toni Kroos also came close, as his 18-yard thunderbolt rattled the crossbar. There was little to see from Ukraine in the second period, although a free kick from Rakitsky had Neuer sprawling to push it wide around the hour mark.
Die Mannschaft continued to apply pressure and Khedira had another chance to double the advantage, but once more he found an impressive Pyatov in the way. Götze and then Müller also had chances, but the Ukrainian no.1 was again on hand on both occasions.
Schweinsteiger crowns his return
Löw made his first change twelve minutes before time, bringing on André Schürrle for Julian Draxler, and the former Chelsea attacker almost made an instant impact, but his shot from just inside the box flew narrowly past the target. Mesut Özil then had a fantastic chance to wrap up the result in a one-on-one, but it was Pyatov who came out on top once more.
Die Mannschaft then had a heart-in-mouth moment at the back, when a misunderstanding between Mustafi and Neuer saw the goalscorer head the ball over the top of the Germany keeper, but the ball fortunately dropped wide of the post. It was soon forgotten about though, as substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger latched onto the end of a pinpoint Özil cross to sweep the ball home and wrap up a 2-0 win.
Next up for Germany is a meeting with Poland in Saint-Denis on Thursday, again at 21:00 CEST. Fellow Group C sides Ukraine and Northern Ireland meet earlier in the day, with kick-off at 18:00 CEST.
