Germany qualify as Group C winners – Ukraine winless

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PARIS, June 21, (Agencies): Mario Gomez struck as world champions Germany beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in Paris on Tuesday to qualify for the Euro 2016 knockout phase as winners of Group C.

Drafted in to address the goal-scoring problems witnessed in Germany’s 0-0 draw with Poland, the on-loan Besiktas striker netted from Thomas Mueller’s pass in the 30th minute at Parc des Princes.

That Germany did not win more handsomely was due largely to the excellence of Northern Irish goalkeeper Michael McGovern.

But it was enough to preserve their position at the top of the group on goal difference above Poland, who beat Ukraine by the same scoreline in Marseille.

Joachim Loew’s side will now turn their thoughts to a last 16 tie against either Albania, Slovakia or the third-place team in Group F — which is yet to conclude — in Lille on Sunday.

Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland, meanwhile, must wait to have their qualification confirmed.

They finished third in the group, but their 2-0 win over Ukraine last week puts them in a strong position to go through as one of the four best third-place teams in what is their first European Championship finals.

O’Neill kept faith with the team that had overcome Ukraine, but whereas his side had set the tempo in Lyon, they were immediately on the back foot against Germany.

With full-backs Jonas Hector and Joshua Kimmich pushing high up on either flank and Jerome Boateng and Toni Kroos lofting passes behind the Northern Irish defence, Germany effectively took up residence in the final third.

McGovern was solicited three times in the first 12 minutes, saving alertly with his body and feet from Gomez, Mesut Ozil and Mario Goetze, who dropped into an attacking midfield role to accommodate Gomez up front.

Mueller twice went close, thrashing a shot across goal and then striking the base of the right-hand post with a plunging header, before creating the opener for Gomez.

Gomez’s subtle pass sent the Bayern Munich forward scampering through and after luring McGovern from his line, he showed great awareness to lay the ball off for Gomez, who steered the ball through a thicket of defenders and into the net.

Mueller then placed a shot against the bar from a Hector cut-back, while Gomez could only scuff meekly at McGovern when Ozil’s pass and Goetze’s dummy left him one-on-one.

Poland 1, Ukraine 0

A second half strike by substitute Jakub Blaszczykowski booked Poland’s ticket into the last-16 at Euro 2016 and sent hapless Ukraine home without a point. The 30-year-old Fiorentina veteran had been rested by coach Adam Nawalka who made four changes in all but scored minutes from his introduction at halftime to decide the tie.

With two 1-0 wins in Group C against Northern Ireland and the Ukrainians either side of a scoreless draw against Germany, Poland finished in second place in the group on goal difference.

After defeats to Germany and the Irish, Ukraine were already eliminated before the game in the Stade Velodrome. Their latest failure meant they became the first team to go five matches without a goal in Euro history.

With pride at stake for Mykhailo Fomenko’s men and a chance of topping the Group C table beckoning for Poland, both teams attacked from the off.

Poland’s formidable strike pair Arkadiusz Milik and Robert Lewandowski each had early chances, the Bayern Munich star volleying the more clearcut of the two over Andriy Yatov’s crossbar.

Ukraine’s Andriy Yarmolenko should have scored on the quarter hour but chipped wide when one-on-one against Lukasz Fabianski.

Lewandowski found more room than in the previous two games and had a drive deflected wide on 20 minutes, but from the half-hour Ukraine began to assert themselves.

With impressive teenager Olexandr Zinchenko, 19, orchestrating from midfield, Poland were stretched on occasion.

Winger Yevhen Konoplyanka drilled a low effort narrowly wide on the half hour. Soon after left-back Bohdan Butko crossed when a shot seemed a better option. But with lone striker Roman Zozulya proving ineffective, Ukraine could not find their first goal since their opening game at the Euro 2012 tournament that they co-hosted with Poland.

Instead, it was Poland’s half-time sub Blaszczykowski who broke the deadlock with a delightful strike.

Fed by Milik on the right of the area in the 53rd minute, he worked the ball onto his left foot and curled a shot inside the far-post to send the Velodrome, decked out mainly in Poland’s red and white, into raucous celebration.

Slovakia, Hungary and Croatia were all assured of qualifying for the last 16 at Euro 2016 without kicking a ball on Tuesday after Germany beat Northern Ireland in Group C.

The result from the Parc des Princes left Northern Ireland third in their group on three points and with Albania also on three points in third place in Group A it means that those three teams, who have four points, are guaranteed to be at least be among the best four third-placed finishers.

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