Germany vs Ukraine: A tricky test for the world champions?
World Cup champions Germany will be intending to start off Euro 2016 on the right path as they take on Ukraine at the Stade Pierre Mauroy on Sunday evening.
In 1998, France won the World Cup, followed by Euro 2000, and Spain won both Euro 2008 and 2012 on either side of a World Cup. Die Mannschaft are seeking emulate this as well as overtake La Furia Roja in the race for a fourth Euro title. As the reigning World Cup winners, Joachim Löw’s men are viewed as the heavy favorites to head home with the trophy, but Germany still do have some major worries ahead of this tournament.
For starters, the team experienced mixed results in their 2016 friendlies, which were all against fellow Euro 2016 competitors. A 4-1 win over perpetual rivals Italy will have lifted fans’ spirits at seeing the team finally get one over on the Azzurri, and a victory over Hungary was to be expected. However, the way they threw away a two goal advantage to lose to fellow European heavyweight England will have caused some pangs of anxiety. And although Löw fielded a weakened squad against Slovakia, losing to a Euro debutant is never comforting, especially on the eve of a major tournament.
Germany are also not without quite some selection headaches. Both Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels are still not 100 per cent fit, and the latter is reportedly struggling with a hamstring problem. Another defensive option, Antonio Rüdiger saw his tournament end even before it started after suffering an unfortunate knee injury. Dortmund star Marco Reus’s bad luck appears to have no end – as he again misses out on another big tournament as a result of fitness problems. And there are major questions about what Mesut Ozil fans will see in France. The Arsenal man, on a good day is absolutely brilliant and is one of the best assist-providers in the business. But on a bad day, he turns into a mere passenger, and one could be forgiven for forgetting that he’s even on the pitch.
Meanwhile, their upcoming opponents Ukraine will be hoping for a better tournament this time around. They are making their second appearance; their first was in 2012 as co-hosts when they were dumped out at the group stages. Although they are in a tricky group, Mykhaylo Fomenko’s side could potentially represent a banana skin for Germany, Poland, and Northern Ireland. Furthermore, they secured their spot here through a tough two-legged playoff against Slovenia, and they boast two players in their ranks who could turn any match on its head.
Speedy wingers Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka, who have netted 25 and 13 goals respectively for Ukraine, will be the go-to men for Ukraine. They will be expected to provide support to striker Roman Zozulya and will need to put in a good shift if Ukraine want to have any chance at clearing the group stage for the first time.
Ukraine, to date, have never beaten Germany. The best result they have earned has been three draws, the most recent a 3-3 result on November 11, 2011. Meanwhile, Germany, who have been nicknamed die Turniermannschaft (due to their tendency to shine in tournaments, but not otherwise), have never lost an opening Euro match. This translates to six wins and five draws from their past 11 Euro tournaments, and for all intents and purposes, they will be expected to make it a 12th without defeat this Sunday.
However, Germany’s back-line is a major question, and it remains to be seen whether they will be able to cope with Ukraine’s pacey attackers. Will die Mannschaft maintain their unbeaten opening day record as they hope to make it a fourth Euro title in July? Or will Ukraine cause a major upset in their second Euro campaign as an independent nation?
