Germany and Ukraine served up a most entertaining match with high levels of technical ability and plenty of drama in their 2016 Euro Cup opener played on June 12. Stand-in center back Shkodran Mustafi headed his first goal and captain Bastian Schweinsteiger scored in stoppage time as the world champions survived several scares to beat Ukraine 2-0 at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, France.
Mustafi, starting in the absence of Mats Hummels, rifled home a header at 19 minutes to give Germany the lead, which was not extended until Schweinsteiger, a 90th minute substitute, swept one home from close range.
Germany, bidding for a fourth Euro title, though its first since 1996, dominated possession, but had to rely on three challenging saves from renowned keeper Manuel Neuer and a goal-line clearance by Jerome Boateng to defeat the pesky Ukrainian squad.
Ukraine, playing in its second European Championship, harried its opponents with hustle and tight defense, offering the Germans few clear sights of the goal. On offense, lone striker Roman Zozulya was not able to offer much threat, except at the very early and closing stages of the match when Ukraine pushed for an equalizing goal.
In an action-packed first half, Yevhen Konoplyanka forced Germany’s keeper Neuer to make a flying save in the fourth minute before the Germans steadily took control with Toni Kroos generating most of their attacks, It was from a Kroos free kick that Mustafi leapt behind Serhiy Sydorchuk to power in his header. Ten minutes later Sami Khediva had a chance to double Germany’s lead as Kroos floated a ball beyond the defense, only to shoot straight at Ukraine’s keeper Andriy Pyatov.
By then, Ukraine was driving its fullbacks higher up the pitch, forcing Neuer to punch over a strong header from Yevhen Khacheridi. Boateng was then forced into a dramatic clearance, first losing the ball, before hacking the ball off the line while back-pedaling into the net. Ukraine also had an effort disallowed for offside.
Ukraine posed less of a threat in the second half, relying on hopeful long balls forward, while keeper Pyatov was forced into action to save both long-range and short drives through on goal.
Germany survived another scare when Mustafi headed a ball back over Neuer’s head, forcing the goalie to scramble back to his net while appearing to body check substitute striker Yevhen Seleznyov.
Ukraine coach Mykhaylo Fomenko brought on fresh legs up front midway through the second half, swapping out Zozulya and Viktor Kovalenko for Seleznyov and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Konoplyanka and Andriy Yarmolenko created Ukraine’s best moments on an injury-riddled German defense that played a nervous opening period.
Ukraine executed a clear game plan with players behind the ball and a willingness to counter attack. Even after Mustafi’s goal, the team stuck to its strategies in the hopes of scratching out a draw. Coach Fomenko’s squad showed plenty of positives – several first-half chances are proof – to take into its next match versus Northern Ireland.
“What matters now is picking the lads up psychologically,” Fomenko said in a post-match press conference. If he had to take a positive away from the bruising encounter with the world champions, it was that his side picked up only one yellow card.