World champion Germany beat Ukraine 2-0 in its first match of the UEFA EURO 2016 Group C here on Sunday night.

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.

It was the first international goal for Mustafi.

The second goal appeared in the 92nd minute when substitute playmaker Bastian Schweinsteiger, who just came from the bench for two minutes, picked Mesut Ozil's pinpoint cross in the box and guided a bounced volley past the helpless Ukrainian keeper Andriy Pyatov.

German coach Joachim Low said, "It was an intense and fast-paced game. In the first half we had a few problems going forward, losing the ball and allowing them the chance to counter. In the second half we did very well, keeping our shape and moving the ball about well. It wasn't easy against a good Ukrainian defense, but we found solutions and so I'm very satisfied.

Ukraine coach Mykhailo Fomenko said, "Sydorchuk is a young player. I think we need some experience. The German team played like a machine, a very high level machine, very impressive."

Despite the loss, Ukraine gave Germany a great deal of pressure, especially in the first half.

After conceding the first goal, the Ukrainians pressed the Germen hard and created many scoring chances, including an Andriy Yarmolenko close-range finish that was ruled out for offside.

In the 27th minute, German keeper Manuel Neuer made an unorthodox save, tipping Ukrainian defender Khacheridi's goalbound bullet header over the bar.

The most dramatic scene came in the 37th minute when Andriy Yarmolenko's lofted pass found the Sevilla midfielder Yevhen Konoplyanka unmarked from the left flank. German central defender Jerome Boateng made a remarkable clearance to stop Konoplyanka's sidefooted volley with his midriff before recovering his balance and finding safety on the goal line.

As the crowd at the stadium considered it as a goal, the goal line technology said No.

Low said, "Boateng is very good in defense. So dangerous was the situation."

Germany opted for zonal marking when defending corners. It packed the box, but was vulnerable from shots on the edge of the area and against players running in when the corners were delivered.

In the second half, Low's men began to keep the ball as much as possible. The effective ball possession totally changed the situation and helped the Germen dominate the game to the end.

The statistics showed that Germany boasted 63 percent ball possession and completed 612 passes against 202 for Ukraine.

Kroos said, "I think we dominated the first 25 minutes or so but over 90 minutes you're always going to go through a spell where you don't have as tight a grip on things."

Although Kroos was picked as the Man of the Match, Pyatov was at least another eyecatching player who denied many scoring attempts from Ozil, Draxler, Muller, Gotze and substitute Andre Schurrle.

source : xinhua