Schweinsteiger sent a message yesterday by scoring Germany’s second goal, the 24th of his global career, in injury time during Deutchsland’s 2-0 victory over Ukraine in the 2016 European Championships opener for both sides.
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They had the better opportunities to score in the first half and must have wished they could still call on the services of Andriy Shevchenko, who scored their only European Championship goals four years ago and is now part of Mykhailo Fomenko’s coaching staff. In the first half we had a few problems going forward, losing the ball and giving them the chance to counter but in the second half we did very well, keeping our shape and moving the ball about well. After all, some of his best career performances have been when he’s played for Germany at global tournaments.
Holding midfielder and captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, still working on his comeback from injury, is also absent, further complicating Loew’s defensive conundrum. “I’ve now played five minutes, I’m not yet so far that I can play for 90 or 120”.
Ukraine might have been on the back foot, but Yaroslav’s Rakiskiy’s low shot – saved by Neuer – demonstrated that the team were still very much in this game with the Germans unable to extend its lead.
Germany’s defender Jerome Boateng (2nd R) kicks the ball from his goal line during their Euro 2016 Group C match against Ukraine in Villeneuve-d’Ascq near Lille Sunday.
But while they looked shaky at the back, Ukraine continued to threaten at the other end with Neuer having to tip Yevhen Khacheridi’s point-blank header over the crossbar. “We deserved victory. We were dominant in the second half”. Fellow midfielders Muller and Mesut Ozil were not at their best, although the Arsenal midfielder crossed for Schweinsteiger’s well-taken goal. “I hope I can play some more”.
It was important for us to start with a win, Mustafi said. It’s great for me to have been able to keep that winning feeling tonight but we’re under no illusions – it was only the first game. Well have to raise ourselves in the tournament and hopefully already against Poland, said Neuer, referring to the teams game at Stade de France outside Paris on Thursday.
The Real Madrid midfielder scored with a dipping volley in the 41st minute of a rugged and bloodied Group D game at Parc des Princes.
Kroos praised the Valencia man for his efforts in the absence of the more established Mats Hummels and Antonio Rudiger – even though he felt his goal was a simple task.
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Poland’s second-half victor from 22-year-old Arkadiusz Milik steered his team to a 1-0 victory ending Northern Ireland’s first appearance at a major finals for 30 years in disappointment.
