LILLE, France Bastian Schweinsteiger marked his return from injury by sealing a 2-0 win for Germany over Ukraine in the world champions opening game at Euro 2016 on Sunday.
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And with Mesut Özil – another national team player criticized by the AfD for a recent pilgrimage to Mecca – setting Bastian Schweinsteiger up for the killer goal in the dying minutes, there wasn’t much to smile about for the traditionalists on the right of German politics.
With three points now safely under their belts, France should gain added confidence for their remaining group games against two very beatable teams, Albania and Switzerland.
“I ran so hard in the celebrations that I’m a bit out of breath still”, said the Manchester United midfielder.
“It’s normal that there’s a phase when you’re not so in control”, Kroos said. “I hope he can play from the start soon”. It was also 30-years to the day since their last game in a major tournament – a 3-0 defeat by Brazil at the 1986 World Cup.
The Germans’ opening salvo was a unsafe one, but it was Ukraine’s Yevhen Konoplyanka who saw the first real scoring opportunity of the clash saved by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, with Mustafi to blame for gifting the ball to the opposition. For me, the captain’s armband isn’t that important – we’ve got Khedira, Schweinsteiger. lots of leaders in the squad and Manuel is one of them.
Germany, eyeing their fourth Euro triumph but first since 1996, looked towards their midfield maestro Toni Kroos to unlock the Ukrainian defence.
Mustafi nearly gifted Ukraine an equalizer late on when he headed the ball back without realizing that Neuer was out of his goal.
And Schweinsteiger wrapped up the win in injury time, moments after coming off the bench.
“We’re happy for everyone, but good “joker” Basti!”
“We had to make adjustments in defense”, said Loew.
Once Rakitskiy tested Neuer with a free-kick after the break, Ukraine’s inroads towards the German goal dried up. We have to keep our motivation high.
Northern Ireland now play Ukraine in Lyon on Thursday with both sides needing a win to stay in the hunt for the knockout stages.
In Paris, a thumping volley from Modric helped Croatia earn a 1-0 victory over Turkey in its Group D opener.
“Getting the ball from the defenders to the strikers wasn’t good but we got better in the second half”.
Despite the loss, Ukraine gave Germany a great deal of pressure, especially in the first half.
The two teams, traditionally known for neat ground passes, mostly preferred lofting crosses into the goalmouth.
As the crowd at the stadium considered it as a goal, the goal line technology said No.
The Irish were unable to cope with an attacking Polish outfit that dominated most of the opening match of the group to clinch their first win in three appearances in the finals.
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Poland had numerous chances to take the lead before Milik’s goal.
