Germany’s Shkodran Mustafi, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Germany and Ukraine.
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The Germans, eyeing their fourth Euro title and their first since 1996, opened the scoring when central defender Mustafi, starting in place of the injured Mats Hummels, rose high to head in a pinpoint Toni Kroos free kick in the 19th minute, Reuters wrote.
“We played well and kept up our good standards in defence”, Neuer told reporters.
However, instead of sitting back and relaxing, Germany coach Joachim Loew had to wait until stoppage time for his team to secure victory when Schweinsteiger netted just minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The Germans now face Poland which beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in the other group C clash.
“Basti was class when he came on and made the goal”, said Neuer.
Ukraine posed less of a threat in the second half, relying on hopeful long balls forward, while their keeper Andriy Pyatov was forced into action to save a long-range effort from Khedira, a low drive from Thomas Mueller and from Mesut Ozil, when he was through on goal.
Poland were good value for the three points, the first time they have won an opening match at a European Championship finals.
However, Germany were also thankful to captain for the night Neuer as he made stops from Yevhen Konoplyanka and Yevhen Khacheridi, while Jerome Boateng made a spectacular clearance off his own line.
Having been a doubt to appear at the tournament at all after an injury-interrupted season, Schweinsteiger found the top corner from Ozil’s cross to mark his first appearance since March in style. Germany’s Xavi ironically plays for Real Madrid, and tonight he ran the show, completing 112 passes, the most in the competition so far.
Germany began their campaign to add the 2016 European Championship to the 2014 Fifa World Cup with a promising 2-0 football victory over Ukraine yesterday, while England and Russian Federation were threatened with expulsion from the tournament.
Mustafi nearly gifted Ukraine an equalizer late on when he headed the ball back without realizing that Neuer was out of his goal.
It was important for us to start with a win, Mustafi said. We can do better and we wanted to keep it alive until the last minute.
“Poland are in any case a strong team”.
Northern Ireland now play Ukraine in Lyon on Thursday with both sides needing a win to stay in the hunt for the knockout stages. I want to get our most risky players on the ball in good positions and it worked well tonight. We have to forget about it now, we have to move on to the next match.
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