Euro 2016: Superb Germany overpower Ukraine to record 2-0 win

In what was a thrilling match of end-to-end action, Germany powered past Ukraine by a 2-0 margin in their Euro 2016 Group C campaign-opening match in Lille on Sunday.

After Shkodran Mustafi scored his first goal for Germany when he headed the winner in the 20th minute, substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger, who came in the last two minutes for Mario Goetze, doubled the lead after thumping in a half volley past Ukrainian keeper Andriy Pyatov on the counter.  

Germany’s opening goal came from a super effort from Mustafi, who powered in a header from Toni Kroos's free-kick to put his name on the scoring sheet.

Joachim Loew's men, who lost central defender Antonio Ruediger to injury earlier this week, were far from convincing and had keeper Manuel Neuer to thank for producing a string of superb one-handed saves in the first half.

Substitute Schweinsteiger then made sure of victory when he scored from close range late on.

Following Mustafi's opening strike Ukraine were not to be cowed down and searched for the equaliser.

Keeper Neuer and defender Jerome Boateng were Germany's heroes as they made crucial saves and worked hard to keep the marauding Ukrainians at bay.

In the 27th minute Neuer thwarted a Khacheridi header, tipping the ball over the bar to deny Ukraine.

Ukraine slowly built pressure and in the 37th minute Germany had a close call but defender Jerome Boateng cleared the ball off the goal line.

The second half saw a more compact and in-control Germany, and it was only right that they had the first opportunity at scoring.

Winger Julian Draxler had a chance to double the tally but Ukrainian keeper Pyatov made a good save.

Pyatov made another great clearance in the 61st minute when he palmed out Sami Khedira’s pile driver from 20 metres.

Toni Kroos was impressive for Germany, manning the midfield and trying hard to make the right impact along with Mesut Ozil.

Germany repeatedly failed to breach the Ukrainian defence with Pyatov denying both Mario Gomez and Thomas Mueller.

In the second half Ukraine were a shadow of themselves -- they did not find too many opportunities to go forward and applied no pressure on the German defence.

Earlier, Germany recalled Mustafi as partner for Jerome Boateng in central defence

Mustafi started in the absence of regular centre back Mats Hummels, who is still recovering from a muscle injury.

Germany, eyeing their fourth Euro triumph but first since 1996, began with attacking midfielder Mario Goetze as a lone forward, with coach Joachim Loew opting to leave in-form striker Mario Gomez on the bench.

Ukraine, playing at their second Euros, selected 10 of their starting 11 from Ukraine's top three sides -- Dynamo Kiev, Shakhtar Donetsk and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.

German and Ukrainian supporters scuffled briefly in the centre of Lille several hours before the game, though police quickly brought the situation under control.