I can’t play for 90 or 120 minutes yet but I’m feeling like I can play. He was injured for much of it, and played very poorly for most of the time that he was match fit.
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German central defender Shkodran Mustafi, 24, opened the scoring in the 19th minute when midfielder Toni Kroos’ pinpoint free-kick found the Valencia defender, who outjumped Ukrainian midfielder Serhiy Sydorchuk to power a header into the top corner of the net.
“So the game is really important for the future of the group”.
Yet for a Germany side blighted by inconsistency ever since their World Cup triumph two years ago, this was another head-scratching display.
The tournament has been marred by violence in the first three days of action.
Jerome Boateng cleared a Yevhen Konoplyanka effort off the goal-line before the break as Ukraine enjoyed their best period of the match. “But with this one I was lucky that I have long legs”.
That helped create more quality scoring chances for Germany as well – though Ukraine’s defense held up well and they still had their chances going forward, especially after bringing on exciting young attacker Oleksandr Zinchenko as a substitute.
Ukraine’s Andriy Pyatov was the busier of the two goalkeepers, though Neuer needed to be alert to stop Yaroslav Rakitskiy’s fierce free kick at his near post in the second half.
But there was still time for Schweinsteiger to come on and complete a dream return after a season wracked by injury.
“We played well and kept up our good standards in defence”. Neuer said, congratulating his former Bayern Munich teammate.
“I think physically and mentally everything will be ok for the next match”.
German police said Sunday they arrested 21 hooligans on Sunday who were trying to make their way to France for the match in Lille.
As the crowd at the stadium considered it as a goal, the goal line technology said No.
Other pictures showed far-right extremists posing in front of the Reichskriegsflagge, the German war flag used until 1919, giving Nazi salutes and reportedly chanting “Germany hooligans” and “we’ve marched in again”.
Germany will face Poland knowing that a win will all but punch their ticket to the Euro 2016 knockout rounds, while Ukraine face Northern Ireland needing a win just to give themselves a chance of making it there themselves.
Another shaky moment at the back came three minutes from time when Mustafi’s back-header went over Neuer, who had to shepherd the ball away from danger under pressure from Ukraine substitute Yevhen Seleznyov.
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There were similar feelings for Modric after he met a high clearance with a 25-meter shot that beat Volkan Babacan in the Turkey goal.
