Euro 2016: Germany spank Ukraine as Croatia, Poland get respective wins

– The Germans proved too strong for their Ukrainian counterparts

– Poland recorded historic victory against tournament debutants

– Croatia set the pace in Group D with an impressive win

Germany opened their account at the ongoing European Championships on a winning note. The team defeated their hard fighting Ukrainian counterparts 2-0 in France.

Shkodran Mustafi rose above the Yellow-Blue defenders and headed past goalkeeper Pyatov in the 18th minute to put the world champions ahead.

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German players celebrate

The Germans have their goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to thank as he made sensational saves to deny Konoplyanka and his colleagues from getting at least a goal.

The Ukrainians may have themselves to blame having misses a couple of begging chances in the first half. Ukraine made several efforts to restore parity in the second half, but their undoing was in the last minute when an electrifying counter-attack allowed Schwensteiger blast the ball into the net to make it two for Germany.

It ended; Germany 2 – 0 Ukraine.

In the other matches played today June 12, Croatia edged Turkey 1-0 in the Group D opening fixture at the encounter at Parc Des Prince.

After much pressure, the The Blazers were rewarded a goal in the 56th minute through their Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric who volleyed home in a spectacular fashion from outside the 18-yard-box.

Modric celebrates his goal against Turkey

Croatia could have scored more but captain Srna and Perisic both hit the post in the second half form a free-kick and header respectively but the scoreline was enough for the Eastern Europeans to  record a win.

Elsewhere it was an historic win for Poland as they recorded their ever win in a European tournament as they went past new comers Northern Ireland 1-0.

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The Polish national team dominated the match all through as Arkadiusz Milik who had earlier missed a couple of chances before getting  the all important winner when he fired home from the edge of the penalty box.

Arkadiusz Milik celebrates scoring the opener. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

The Northern Ireland national team has a handful of chances on goal and pose little threat to goalkeeper Scezny in goal as they were outclassed by a more productive Polish side.

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