Germany to pack bigger punch against Northern Ireland

Germany have promised that their attack will pack a bigger punch when they face Northern Ireland on Tuesday after struggling up front in their first two Euro 2016 matches.

The Germans will definitely go through to the tournament’s last 16 with a win or a draw in their final Group C game but they will need to be more clinical in front of goal, having scored just twice in their two matches so far.

“In attack we have not had the goal success we want,” said attacking midfielder Thomas Mueller, who is fresh from his most prolific scoring season at Bayern Munich with 20 league goals.

“From forwards that is what is expected and we are measured by our goalscoring abilities.”

Neither goal in the 2-0 opening win over Ukraine came from a forward with central defender Shkodran Mustafi and holding midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger on target.

They followed that up with a goalless draw against Poland.

Coach Joachim Loew must decide whether to stick with misfiring attacking midfielder Mario Goetze up front or use his only out-and-out striker Mario Gomez, top scorer in the Turkish league last season, or even deploy winger Andre Schuerrle through the middle.

“Of course, we want to have more punch in attack. Both in training and in the analysis we are looking for some solutions but we are in a good position,” Goetze said.

Germany are expected to advance comfortably from their group but Mueller warned fans they were unlikely to see a high-scoring affair against the Northern Irish.

The Northern Irish are brimming with confidence after beating Ukraine 2-0 to notch their first win in a major tournament in 34 years, following a defeat by Poland in their opener.

They may not be able to match their upcoming opponents for class but they have so far demonstrated their credentials for concealing weaknesses and maximising their strengths.

Goals from Gareth McAuley and Niall McGinn against Ukraine ended their long wait for a tournament victory that stretched back to the 1982 World Cup, when Gerry Armstrong’s low finish famously downed hosts Spain.

Last chance against Czechs

Turkey have left it late to bid for a place in the knockout stage but defender Gokhan Gonul believes they still have a chance, if they can beat a buoyant Czech side in their final Group D game.

“There is a thing the Turkish national team always does, which is chasing the game until the last minute,” the 31-year-old defender said.

The Czechs are full of confidence after fighting back from two goals down to draw with Croatia on Friday.

Turkey, by contrast, were lacking in bite when they lost 1-0 to Croatia in their opening game before being given a footballing lesson in a 3-0 drubbing by reigning European champions Spain.

Aside from scoring their first goal of the tournament in Lens, Turkey would need other results to go their way even if they do win, while victory for the Czechs would put them on four points and in a good position to make the last 16.

“Turkey are a very strong side, they have a lot of good players who play for top teams,” said Czech forward Tomas Necid.

“As a team, they have good link-up play and plenty of flair.”

Poland wary of wounded Ukraine

Poland, bidding to reach the European Championship knockout stages for the first time, will take nothing for granted when they face neighbours Ukraine in their final Group C match.

Ukraine lost their first two games and cannot progress but Poland, second in the standings after beating Northern Ireland 1-0 in their opening match, will reach the last 16 if they overcome their co-hosts of Euro 2012.

“Third matches tend to be different from the first two,” Poland assistant coach Hubert Malowiejski told reporters.

“I don’t agree Ukraine play for nothing. They play for honour what is important for them. We are prepared for very dangerous opponent full of Shakhtar, Dynamo Kiev and Sevilla players.”

Poland have not beaten Ukraine in their last five meetings, including two defeats in 2014 World Cup qualifying, and they may be without first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny again due to a thigh injury.

Ukraine lost 2-0 to both Germany and Northern Ireland, the latter defeat coming as a bitter disappointment against a team ranked six places below them.

“We understand the fans and we are very sorry,” defender Olexandr Kucher said.

“Now we have to win their respect back in the game against Poland. Of course, this match has no tournament meaning for us but we have to finally show some positive football and get a result. This is most important so far. We will fight for our prestige.”

Ukraine midfielder Ruslan Rotan was at a loss to explain the poor performance against Northern Ireland.

“It is difficult to say now because we are full of emotions at the moment. The fact that we failed to progress to the round of 16 is definitely a bad result for us, as we wanted more. But we have to look forward,” he said.

“We have to play the next game for our honour, for the honour of the whole country.”

Eyes on troublesome fans

When Croatia meet Spain in their final group match there will be as much scrutiny of developments in the stands as on the pitch.

The wilder element of the Croatian supporters have caused trouble at both of the country’s games so far and European football’s ruling body UEFA was expected to make an announcement on its probe into their behaviour later on Monday.

UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings after Croatia fans threw flares and ran on to the pitch during their opening Group D game, a 1-0 win against Turkey.

Then Friday’s 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic was halted with four minutes to play when supporters again threw flares and fought among themselves.

After the teams returned to the pitch, Croatia’s players felt their concentration had been disturbed, which contributed to the Czechs scoring a late equaliser with a penalty.

That means instead of already having qualified for the last 16 along with Spain, Croatia still require a point from Tuesday’s game, adding to the tension of the occasion.

Spain want to win the group to meet a third-placed team in the last 16. Losing would mean coming second and facing Italy, winner of Group E.