Germany vs Ukraine a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
June 13, 2016
1,579 Views
- World Champions Germany got off to a winning start last night at Euro 2016 and although the 2-0 scoreline suggests a relatively comfortable victory they were certainly made to work for their three points
- Toni Kroos was exemplary in Midfield as he didn’t put a foot wrong during the game although the Germans have Jerome Boateng and Manuel Neuer to thank for their clean sheet last night
- Early on Neuer was certainly the busier of the two keepers
- He was called to make a fantastic save from Yevhen Konoplyanka when the score was 0-0
- But Germany weathered the early storm and they were ahead within 20 minutes
- A free kick was awarded in a semi dangerous position but the ball into the box was inch perfect to make it a real threat
- Kroos’s free kick was placed right in the danger area and Shkodran Mustafi was on hand to head home from close range
- But the moment of real brilliance came at the other end when Jerome Boateng managed to hook away the ball after diverting Konoplyanka’s effort towards his own net
- Heart in mouth stuff for Joachim Low in the touchline
- Germany went into the break ahead and were decent value for their lead although you get the feeling that the defence could be a real weakness and one that a stronger team would exploit
- Ukraine tired in the second half as their bid to restore parity fizzled out
- There was a slight scare for Neuer whose clearance late on ended up hitting his own defender but thankfully the ball span wide of the post
- It seemed as if Germany’s luck was very much in
- And in injury time they doubled their advantage
- Ukraine gave it their all in a final surge forward but were then caught out by a blistering counter attack
- The ball broke to Mesut Ozil out wide who then had the time and space to lay the ball on a plate for Bastian Schweinsteiger to slot home and secure all three points
- So a win for the Champions as they look to win their first European Championships in 20 years
- They will have to raise their game if that is to be the case but they will be glad that they have got off to a winning start
- Next up for them is Poland while Ukraine face Northern Ireland
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