Germany and Poland play to first 0-0 stalemate at Euro 2016

“I don’t know any other way”.

The world champions opened their Group C campaign with a 2-0 win over Ukraine, despite a less than sparkling showing. “It is simple, we did not deserve to win”, admitted Mats Hummels, “because we did not create enough chances to score”.

“I feel like we have the right preparation and if we go into it in the right way, anyone can be vulnerable”.

Loew introduced forwards Andre Schuerrle and Mario Gomez to bring more of a cutting edge to Germany’s attacking play in the final quarter.

“The team is in good physical shape, absolutely”.

Germany head coach Joachim Low is smiling in the face of criticism from the team’s former midfielder Michael Ballack over their performances at Euro 2016.

A share of the spoils leaves both countries joint-top of their respective group; ahead of Northern Ireland and Ukraine, but neither side took the necessary risks to snatch all three points on the night – although the White and Reds’ Arkadiusz Milik spurned several golden opportunities to break the deadlock and punish the pre-m.

Still, with already-eliminated Ukraine up next on Tuesday, he has a good chance to add to his worldwide tally of 34 goals. “After beating Ukraine, if we can beat Germany, I think that will be the biggest achievement ever for a Northern Ireland side”.

Two years ago, Mario Goetze became an overnight hero when his sublime extra-time victor in Rio de Janeiro delivered the World Cup to Germany and made sure his name would forever hold a unique place in the annals of the sport. But Muller is the classic “second striker”, a man who makes himself invisible before he exploits time and space when opponents are trying to defend against more obvious central attackers.

The victory is Northern Ireland’s first since beating host Spain in the 1982 World Cup.

“They do all what is required of them and they do well in training, but you can feel “this is the national team” – they need to get used to the tempo and the quality”, said Loew.

It was a contest which was supposed to get football fans drooling – but in the end it was nothing more than a damp squib.

In their first game, though, Germany drew first blood within the first 20 minutes, and you had the impression that they were after a relatively early goal in this one too, but the Polish defense wasn’t having it. As the first half drew to a close, you had the sense that Germany would break through with a moment of brilliance in the second frame.

Die Mannschaft were forced to spend a traumatic night in the dressing rooms at France’s national stadium when a series of jihadist attacks across Paris left 130 dead on a night they faced the French in a friendly.

“In their first game they held back a bit against Poland, they didn’t play as they can, but in the second game they displayed unbelievable fight, lots of power and a huge amount of energy”. “However, neither day was a long session so it will be important to see how the last training goes this evening”, Loew said Wednesday.