Germany 0 - 0 PolandGermany turn off the power against Poland to leave it tight in Group C
Germany passed and passed. And they passed some more. But there was the clear feeling that one of the Euro 2016 favourites were not yet in sync. Joachim Löw, the manager, watched his team struggle for penetration, with Mario Götze typifying the issue at the top of the formation, and these finals would have their first scoreless draw.
Germany have punished Poland at previous tournaments, namely the 1974 and 2006 World Cups, together with Euro 2008 but not here. They might have dominated the ball but it was Poland who could rue the passing up of the biggest chances. Their patient approach almost yielded the ultimate reward but twice in the second-half, Arkadiusz Milik was twice badly off-target when gloriously placed.
Poland looked the happier at full-time and the result keeps both countries handily placed for the last 16, with four points apiece. What it meant, for sure, was the elimination of Ukraine, who had lost to Northern Ireland earlier in the day. Both Germany and Poland – who have never reached the second phase of this tournament – will fancy their chances of progress. First place in Group C could come down to goal difference.
Poland had entered with confidence. After failing to taste victory at either of their previous two European Championship finals they had broken their duck against Northern Ireland last Sunday and there had also been the 2-0 home win over Germany during qualification – their first victory over their neighbours. Adam Nawalka’s team have emerged to dynamic effect and it was impossible to see this as anything other than Germany’s sternest test in Group C.
Germany’s smooth football was evident at the outset. There was a velvet feel to their touches and a supreme comfort on the ball. This team always wants the ball, even in tight areas, and it was always likely they would hog it. Toni Kroos was the midfield conductor-in-chief.
Poland knew this would happen and they were unconcerned. Their weapon was the fast and direct break and it had been revealing to hear Löw say, during the build-up, that Poland were “one of the best counter-attacking teams I have seen over the past two years”.They would wait for their moment.
It says everything about the way that Löw’s approach has evolved that he should start with the diminutive Götze as the leader of his line. Given the quality of his attacking midfielders, perhaps it is the only way of jamming him into the team.
There was a moment early on when Germany paid for Götze’s lack of aerial power. Julian Draxler’s cross from the left, following Jérôme Boateng’s sweeping ball out to him was fractionally too high for Götze and, stretching, he headed over. Götze was an unorthodox focal point.
Germany controlled the first half but they created little. Their only other chance fell to Götze in the 17th minute and, sliding to meet Thomas Müller’s cross, he got the finish all wrong and diverted wide.
Müller had created the chance when he chased down and robbed Lukasz Piszczek, as the Poland full-back attempted to shepherd the ball over the line for a throw-in. Jonas Hector also blasted in a shot that Sami Khedira almost got a touch to.
The Poland fans brought the noise – and a flare that they lit before the kick-off, which represented an embarrassment for the organisers and their security checkpoints around the stadium.
Those in red and white bounced and swayed and yelled, even though their team’s effort was reactive for long spells, restricted to attempting to contain and break Germany’s passing rhythms. Poland offered nothing as an attacking force in the first half.
Within seconds of the restart, though, they had the chance for which they had waited. Jakub Blaszczykowski worked the ball wide right for Kamil Grosicki, who had been preferred to Bartosz Kapustka, and he dinked his cross over the head of Boateng.
Milik was behind the Germany defender but, with the goal gaping, he could not read the ball’s fight and did no more than brush it with his face. The effort squirted wide of the far post.
Milik would have another one, on 68 minutes and, once again, he fluffed his lines. After Robert Lewandowski’s pass and Grosicki’s low cut-back, Milik missed his kick – to howls of frustration. The tie warmed up in the second half, with Poland making inroads. Milik shot wide from a free-kick on 58 minutes and, moments later, Boateng jumped into a saving tackle, as Lewandowski prepared to shoot.
Löw made changes, hooking Gotze, who had shot straight at Lukasz Fabianski in the 47th minute, and ending up with Mario Gomez on as a more orthodox No9. Andre Schürrle, another substitute, crossed for Mesut Ozil but he was denied by a smart tip-over by Lukasz Fabianski.
Guardian
