[img] http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQaTd3Py9pi3i_LVqKOtE976k-XdugPJiDldpCyY51C6QGAk_LWLL-pcOQ[/img] [size=16pt]Germany vs Ukraine[/size] [img] http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSH2694h3vBj-CaZVd4j1MQLeVlGy1__Ai095fo8gIjaZP5PhfsnD1vMCc[/img] Germany will kick off its challenge to become just the third team to follow up World Cup victory by becoming champions of Europe two years later when taking on Ukraine in Lille on Sunday. While both France and Spain have accomplished the sizable feat, Germany has never managed it, despite winning four World Cups and three European Championships in its illustrious history and holding both titles simultaneously in the mid-1970s.
Now after a new wave of German talent came good to win the World Cup in Brazil two years ago, Joachim Löw’s side enter Euro 2016 as one of the favorites. Yet it has not been all smooth sailing for Germany since Mario Götze’s extra-time goal sunk Argentina at the Maracana.
Qualifying, expected to be a breeze, especially with an expanded format to 24 teams, turned into a far more arduous affair. Defeats to both Poland and the Republic of Ireland meant that Germany went into its final match still not guaranteed of an automatic place in France.
Much of that could be down to a post-World Cup hangover and the difficulty of getting back motivated for Euro qualifiers after just lifting the biggest prize in soccer, but there were other more serious concerns. With the World Cup victory came the retirement of some of the team’s most experienced and important players, notably captain Philipp Lahm and record goalscorer Miroslav Klose.
Their departure saw the squad lose valuable leaders, and perhaps explains why Löw was so keen to name Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski in his squad for Euro 2016. But those two cannot fill the void, made only bigger by Lahm and Klose’s departure from the scene, at full-back and up front.
Adding to Löw’s concerns, he has suffered some big injury blows ahead of the tournament. Borussia Dortmund duo Ilkay Gundogan and Marco Reus had already been ruled before defender Antonio Rüdiger tore his anterior cruciate ligament in training this week. With fellow defender Mats Hummels also set to miss the opener, Löw has much to ponder.
Yet it is not an unfamiliar story for Germany. There were plenty of injury concerns ahead of the last World Cup, too, and Löw also found a way during the tournament to counter the lack of options at full-back and up front. And, with the likes of Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer, Mesut Özil, Toni Kroos and others fit and available, Germany still possesses enough quality to make it the envy of almost every other country at the championships.
Certainly Ukraine would love to have Germany’s problems. Ukraine had to come through a playoff against Slovenia in order to make it to France after finishing below Spain and Slovakia in its group. Mykhaylo Fomenko's team has, though, won nine of its last 12 matches, including its last four. And, in wingers Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka, Ukraine has two players who can do damage to any opponent.
What the team doesn’t have anymore is a striker of the quality of Ballon d’Or winner Andriy Shevchenko. The former Milan and Chelsea forward scored twice in his international swan song as Ukraine bowed out of Euro 2012, when co-hosts, at the group stage. Now an assistant coach with his country, Shevchenko accepts that Ukraine will have to find ways to overcome its talent discrepancy with Germany.
“Every game is going to be difficult, but in the first one some nervousness might play a part,” he told the tournament’s official website. “We understand what we are up against. Maybe we are a bit weaker individually, so we have to be better collectively. We will try to build on our compactness, movement, tactical nous and fast attacks, which have always been typical for Ukraine. We are going to give Germany a good game.”
Opta stats
Germany are unbeaten against Ukraine (W2 D3). Their last two games have produced 11 goals (7 for Germany, 4 for Ukraine).
This is Germany and Ukraine's first encounter in a major tournament. This is Germany's 12th Euros, more than any other team. They have won it three times (1972, 1980, 1996), the most alongside Spain (1964, 2008, 2012).
Germany have won seven of their last nine games in the European Championships, losing twice (2008 final v Spain & 2012 semi-final v Italy).
Low has taken charge of 11 games as manager at the Euros, the joint-most alongside Berti Vogts. He has led Germany since 2006, the longest current tenure among managers who made it to Euro 2016.
Germany have never lost their opening game at the Euros (W6 D5).
This is the Ukraine's second appearance at the European Championship finals. However, it's the first time they've qualified for the tournament (they were co-hosts in 2012).
Ukraine were knocked out in the group stages in their only previous appearance at the Euros finals (2012). Shevchenko is the only player so far to have scored for Ukraine at the Euros (2 goals).
Ukraine head-coach Mykhaylo Fomenko is taking charge at a major tournament for the first time. He earned 24 caps as a player with the USSR.
TEAM NEWS
Germany
Low's line-up is unlikely to be set in stone, with Mats Hummels facing a late fitness test to discover whether he has recovered from a calf injury.
He could instead call upon Jonathan Tah, who replaced Antonio Rudiger in the squad after the defender tore his anterior cruciate ligament on Tuesday.
Probable line-up: Neuer; Howedes, Hummels, Boateng, Hector; Kroos, Khedira; Müller, Ozil, Draxler; Gomez.
Ukraine
The only real question facing Ukraine coach Mykhaylo Fomenko is which of his midfielders he should use in an attacking midfield role.
Fomenko will have to choose between Denys Garmash, Vktor Kovalenko, who has been superb for Shakhtar recently, or Serhiy Sydorchuk, with the rest of his line-up essentially set in stone.
Probable line-up: Pyatov; Fedetskiy, Khacheridi, Rakitskiy, Shevchuk; Stepanenko, Garmash, Rotan; Yarmolenko, Konoplyanka; Zozulya. |
