France and Germany advance to EURO quarters

The world champions, who were humbled 3-1 in a pre-Euro 2016 friendly in Augsburg in May, face the Repre in a last-16 showdown on Sunday evening.

“We knew in advance that we could rely on him”, said Neuer about his 21-year-old Bayern colleague Kimmich. Our task now will be more hard and we can not leave our opponents any spaces because teams will punish us. We will not get that many chances against Slovakia.

“We very much believe in ourselves, and as I said, the team spirit is great, we will bring everything we have to this match”.

Germany needed just eight minutes to make the breakthrough in Lille. “But we shouldn’t focus on a player, we need to look at our opponents as a whole”. It starts with the round of 16 game against Slovakia in Lille on Sunday.

In team news, Germany have made one adjustment to the team that beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in their final group stage match, with forward Mario Gotze being replaced by Julian Draxler. “They have experienced players in the defence but we will find ways to do better than England”. Boateng, who had failed to score in his previous 62 games for his country, opened his account in spectacular fashion by firing home a volley from 25-yards after Toni Kroos’ corner had only been partially cleared. “We’ll do everything to make sure (he’s fit)”, Germany assistant coach Marcus Sorg said Thursday at the team’s tournament base.

Draxler. The Wolfsburg man won the free kick in the build-up to the opener, got behind the Slovakian defence on numerous occasions, provided an assist, and got on the scoresheet.

In a tournament short on traditional centre-forwards, Germany have realised that an old-fashioned number nine is sometimes better than a modern “false” one.

Germany didn’t concede a goal in the group stage for the first time since 1996, coincidentally when it won the last of its three titles, but it has injury worries over central defender Jerome Boateng.

Slovakia did it before, and now they have a chance to do it again.

“I’m not anxious”, Loew said of the forward who contributed nine of Germany’s 24 goals in qualifying.

Mario Gomez was on target in his first game in this tournament in their 1-0 win over Northern Ireland but, just like Mario Goetze, he wasted chances to increase the scoreline.

The world champion showed its defensive resilience as well as attacking ambition in a display that augurs well for the tougher challenges ahead. “It’s not bad that Italy are playing Spain as one top team will be out”.

The ten meetings between these nations have comprised seven Germany wins, three for Slovakia and no draws.

Hertha Berlin defender Peter Pekarik suffered a blow to his nose in the scoreless draw with England and may have to wear a nose-guard.