Schweinsteiger seals 2-0 win for Germany over Ukraine

WORLD champion Germany got off to a winning start in a quest for a record fourth European Championships. And when it did, Germany was there to punish it. Substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger finished off a slick counter-attacking move by converting a cross from Mesut Ozil to make it 2-0.

And a ideal night for Loew’s men was completed when captain Bastian Schweinsteiger smashed home his first worldwide goal in five years in stoppage time.

“I ran so hard in the celebrations that I ” m a bit out of breath still.

The result leaves Joachim Low’s side level with Poland on three points following the first round of games in Group C.

First he stopped Yevhen Konoplyanka, and then Yevhen Khacheridi from close range before Jerome Boateng cleared Konoplyanka’s effort off the line.

Many people on Twitter also mocked separate comments by Gauland, who said last week that the national team was no longer German “in the classical sense.”

“It’s good when you have a neighbour like Jerome Boateng in defence”, Löw said directly after the game of the Berlin-born defender, whose father is Ghanaian.

The evening was only blemished by fighting between German and Ukraine supporters in Lille before the game.

“It was important for us to start with a win”, Mustafi said. Another 50 leading suspects took part in the skirmishes which followed the major battles between Russian Federation and England fans in Marseille.

Stewards led the man away after the security breach.

“It could have been also a supporter from Turkey, but thank God it was our supporter!” Although Croatia coach Ante Cacic called it “magical”, the modest Modric could not even recall that his 11th worldwide goal over a 10-year span made it 10 wins and a draw when he is on the scoresheet.

The Real Madrid playmaker scored the only goal, breaking the deadlock in a tense affair just before halftime by meeting a deflected clearance with a fine volley from 25 metres that bounced in front of diving Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Babacan. He was really playing well. “He was really our leader”.

In Nice, Arkadiusz Milik’s goal in the 51st minute helped Poland to edge newcomer Northern Ireland 1-0 in Group C.

Poland had three draws and three losses over two appearances in 2008 and 2012.

For Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland, it was a disappointing end to their first ever European Championship match.

“They have quite strong strikers with Lewandowski, who we know well and who scores a lot of goals”.

“At times early on we were nearly overpowered by their physical strength”.

Northern Ireland now play Ukraine in Lyon on Thursday with both sides needing a win to stay in the hunt for the knockout stages.