Not even a rare missed penalty from Mesut Ozil prevented Germany
from matching their record Euro win and setting up a quarter-final
against Spain or Italy.
Mario Gomez (L) of Germany celebrates scoring his team's second goal against Slovakia.
Germany thumped Slovakia 3-0
with goals from Jerome Boateng, Mario Gomez and Julian Draxler to cruise
into the Euro 2016 quarter-finals on Sunday and confirm their status as
tournament favourites with a sparkling performance.
Central defender Boateng, who had been passed fit after an injury,
connected perfectly with a clearance in the eighth minute to volley home
from 25 metres for his first international goal as the world champions
took control from the start.
The Germans, who next face either holders Spain or Italy, saw Mesut
Ozil's weak 13th minute penalty saved but Gomez made no mistake two
minutes from halftime when he tapped home a perfect cut back from the
marauding Julian Draxler.
Draxler, coming into the
starting lineup for the lacklustre Mario Goetze, was then left with far
too much space at the far post to volley in their third just past the
hour as the Germans kept a fourth straight clean sheet at the finals.
Comfortable with either foot, the winger utilised his speed and
intelligence to good effect, helping his side pin the Slovaks in their
own half for much of the opening period
Jerome Boateng of Germany celebrates scoring the opening goal against Slovakia.
Boateng opened the scoring with
a deflected volley following a corner and ran to celebrate with team
doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt, who helped him recover from a
muscle injury sustained in their last group game with Northern Ireland.
Ozil's weak penalty, well saved by Matus Kozacik, was one of the few blemishes in an otherwise superb Germany performance.
Slovakia may have got the better of the Germans in a pre-Euro 2016
friendly but, apart from a few forays forward, they were all at sea.
Five minutes before halftime Juraj Kucka forced a flying save from
Germany captain Manuel Neuer as he sent Peter Pekarik's cross toward the
top corner.
Julian Draxler (top) of Germany scores his team's third goal against Slovakia.
Germany hit back immediately,
Draxler turning Kucka inside out before squaring for Gomez to stab the
ball home from close range to make it 2-0.
Slovakia were marginally better in the second half but when the
excellent Draxler hooked a volley into the top corner in the 63rd minute
there was no way back.
Draxler and Boateng were replaced by Lukas Podolski and Benedikt
Hoewedes nine minutes later as the game took on the air of a friendly
with Germany's place in the last eight against Spain or Italy already
booked.
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