Date: June 26, 2016
Result: Germany 3 Slovakia 0
Scorers:
Germany: Boateng 8, Gomez 43, Draxler 63
Slovakia: none
Venue: Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
Match overview:
Germany cruised into the quarter-finals with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Slovakia in Lille. It the world champions’ most impressive performance of the tournament so far. They comfortably stepped up a gear to dominate a Slovakia team that had a beaten a second-string German side in a pre-tournament friendly in Augsburg.
Germany were in control from the start and took just eight minutes to take the lead through Jerome Boateng’s volley after Slovakia had failed to clear a German corner. They should have extended their lead a few minutes late when Martin Skrtel was penalised for a push on Mario Gomez. But Mesut Ozil’s poorly-disguised spot kick was pushed away by Slovakia keeper Matus Kozacik.
Slovakia enjoyed a brief spell late in the first half, when Manuel Neuer’s brilliant save denied Juraj Kucka’s header. But just as it looked as if they might find a way back into the game, Germany went down the other end and scored a second. Julian Draxler tricked his way past Kucka to the byline and pulled the ball back for Gomez to stab home.
Slovakia briefly theatened early in the second half as Germany sat back but Draxler added a third when he hooked the ball into the net after Hummels had headed on a German corner.
Key moment:
Jerome Boateng’s early goal for Germany, a volley from the edge of the area that took a deflection as it beat Slovakia keeper Matus Kozacik. It was the outstanding Boateng’s first international goal and from there on, there was no way back for Slovakia.
Man of the match:
Julian Draxler, in for the disappointing Mario Gotze, provided the assist for Germany’s second goal with a fine run into the area, and then scored their third with a smart volley.
Matter of fact:
Mesut Ozil’s missed penalty was Germany’s first missed spot-kick in open play in Euro finals history.
Talking point:
Martin Skrtel looked surprised when he was penalised for the penalty (missed by Mesut Ozil) but he was only doing what he does every game. The real surprise was that it had taken so long for an official to take action against pushing in the area – this was the first such punishment of the tournament, in match 41.
Stats:
Goal attempts
Germany: 19
Slovakia: 7
Attempts on target
Germany: 7
Slovakia: 2
Corners
Germany: 8
Slovakia:1
Line-ups:
Germany
01 Manuel Neuer
03 Jonas Hector
05 Mats Hummels
06 Sami Khedira (07 Bastian Schweinsteiger 76)
08 Mesut Ozil
11 Julian Draxler (10 Lukas Podolski 72)
13 Thomas Muller
17 Jerome Boateng (04 Benedikt Howedes 72)
18 Toni Kroos
21 Joshua Kimmich
23 Mario Gomez
Starting formation: 4-2-3-1
Neuer – Kimmich, Boateng, Hummels, Hector – Kroos, Khedira – Muller, Ozil, Draxler – Gomez
Slovakia
23 Matus Kozacik
02 Peter Pekarik
03 Martin Skrtel
04 Jan Durica
05 Norbert Gyomber (16 Kornel Salata 84)
07 Vladimir Weiss (06 Jan Gregus 46)
13 Patrik Hrosovsky
14 Milan Skriniar
17 Marek Hamsik
19 Juraj Kucka
21 Michal Duris (09 Stanislav Sestak 64)
Starting formation: 4-3-2-1
Kozacik – Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Gyomber – Hrosovsky, Skriniar, Hamsik – Kucka, Weiss – Duris
Yellow cards:
Germany: Kmimich 41, Hummels 66
Slovakia: Skrtel 13, Kucka 90
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Pol)
Attendance: 44,312
