Schweinsteiger seals German win over Ukraine

LILLE

World champions Germany were bailed out by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer as goals by Shkodran Mustafi and Bastian Schweinsteiger secured a 2-0 win over Ukraine in their Euro 2016 opener in Lille.

Valencia defender Mustafi powered home the opener from Toni Kroos's free-kick after just 19 minutes of Sunday's game.
And Schweinsteiger wrapped up the win in injury time, moments after coming off the bench.

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.

Next up for Germany is a heated battle for top spot in Group C with neighbours Poland on Thursday in Paris after the Poles overcame Northern Ireland 1-0 thanks to Arkadiusz Milik's strike earlier on Sunday.

World Cup-winning coach Joachim Loew had to name a makeshift back line due to a series of defensive injuries, and that instability was exposed as Neuer kept Ukraine at bay in an entertaining opening 45 minutes.

The giant Bayern Munich goalkeeper flew to his right to turn Sevilla winger Konoplyanka's curling effort behind after a slip from Mustafi after just five minutes.

However, the absence of the injured Mats Hummels and Antonio Ruediger played into German hands for the opening goal as Mustafi made the most of his chance to start in their absence with a bullet header from Kroos's free-kick.

Neuer came to Germany's rescue again with brilliant reflex save to tip over Khacheridi's header, but Loew's men could just as easily have been 2-0 up moments later when Sami Khedira shot too close to Andriy Pyatov.

Ukraine ended the half on the front foot as only a remarkable acrobatic clearance from Boateng prevented the dangerous Konoplyanka from levelling, with English referee Martin Atkinson helped to make the right call by goal-line technology.

Even when Ukraine did finally beat Neuer they were denied by the offside flag when Andriy Yarmolenko tapped home seven minutes before the break.
Germany enjoyed more control after the interval with Ukraine's twin threats of Konoplyanka and Yarmolenko kept in check.

However, they were restricted to efforts from long range as Khedira was again denied by Pyatov with a fierce drive from 25 yards.

Pyatov got down well to save from Mario Goetze and Thomas Mueller as spaces began to open up with Ukraine pushing more bodies forward in search of an equaliser.
They finally put the result beyond doubt in injury time when Mesut Ozil's inch-perfect cross from the left was fired home by substitute Schweinsteiger.

The goal was his first for his country in five years and made sure of a perfect start for Germany in their quest for a fourth European crown to match their four World Cup triumphs.

BROKE HEARTS

Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik broke Northern Ireland hearts on Sunday after rifling home the only goal in a 1-0 win in their Euro 2016 Group C opener in Nice.

Poland had never won a game before at the European Championship, with three draws and three losses over two appearances in 2008 and 2012 — the latter a tournament that they co-hosted with Ukraine.

Now they can look forward to a spicy tie with neighbours Germany in the Stade de France on June 16 with eyes on a spot in the last 16.

"We have been preparing for them for a long time, we prepare to win against Gemany," said Poland coach Adam Nawalka.

"It's just the beginning, the next matches will show that we can play even better," said man-of-the-match Grzegorz Krychowiak.

On a day when Poland's brightest star Robert Lewandowski was stifled by Northern Ireland, the rest of the team stood up for duty, with Sevilla midfielder Krychowiak in particular shining in a playmaker role.

"The team has realised that we won't win as individuals but we can achieve something as 23 players in a squad," said Krychowiak, who also starred in Sevilla's Europa League title win last month.

"This team is a collective," added Nawalka.

The result dents Northern Ireland's pre-tournament hopes of qualifying from a tough group as one of the four best third-placed teams, with a win now looking essential against Ukraine in Lyon the same day.

Nawalka's side dominated the game but took time to break down a stubborn defence, Milik's strike early in the second half coming after several missed chances in the first.

For Michael O'Neill's side, it was a disappointing end to their first ever European Championship match, and first major tournament appearance since the 1986 World Cup.

They entered the game unbeaten in a record 12 matches, but although they held their more vaunted opponents scoreless until half-time, they struggled to win any possession in the impressive Stadium Nice.
From the off Poland dominated the game but struggled to penetrate close to goal against a back-four stoutly marshalled by West Brom's Jonny Evans.
With Bayern Munich star Lewandowski bottled up by Northern Ireland's rearguard action and Milik misfiring on several occasions, it was a frustrating opening period for Poland.
Top scorers in qualifying for Euro 2016, they managed just two shots on target in the opening period.
The first was on the half-hour when a left-footed drive by Milik from outside the box was easily parried by Michael McGovern.
Milik should also have scored after a cut-back by Lukasz Piszczek put him in space 10 yards out but he sliced high and wide.
Then as a scrappy half drew to a close, Poland almost broke the deadlock when a left-foot snapshot by the always lively Bartosz Kapustka was superbly tipped over by McGovern.
The defensive approach of Northern Ireland, whose striker Kyle Lafferty was their only player in the opposing half for much of the game, was breached soon after half-time.
Just six minutes after the break Milik made no mistake when firing through the legs of Craig Cathcart after Jakub Blaszczykowski found him unmarked on the edge of the area.

Blaszczykowski had his own chance to double Poland's tally on 68 minutes but steered wide after Milik had stroked a ball behind the Northern Ireland defence.

Krzysztof Maczynski, Milik again, and Krychowiak had chances to put Poland 2-0 up in the last 15 minutes but all narrowly missed.

Northern Ireland rarely looked like scoring although a speculative off-target scissor kick from Lafferty gave their raucous fans some hope, while captain Steven Davis almost got on the end of a through ball late on.