EURO 2016 MATCH ANALYSIS: GERMANY vs UKRAINE

MATCH ANALYSIS: GERMANY vs UKRAINE

Quality offensive interplay from the World Champions was the hallmark of this game. Germany’s constant offensive rotation and interplay made their attacks unpredictably save for some spells of defensive instability. Some more work required at defending set pieces.

FORMATIONS

With Mat Hummels unavailable and Rudiger sent home due to injury, Joachim Low partnered club mates Mustafi and Boateng in defence. They were flanked by Hector and Howedes at full back positions. Kroos and Khedira were partnered in holding midfield with Ozil in the CAM role. Gotze played up front as a false nine.

GERMANY STARTING 11 VS UKRAINE

Ukraine also played in a 4-2-3-1 set up with star names Konoplyanka and Yarmolenko in the wide attacking midfield positions and rising youngster from Shakhtar , Kovalenko in the CAM role. An aging backline was supported by the equally experienced Goalkeeper Pyatov.

UKRAINE STARTING 11 VS GERMANY

GERMANY’S OFFENSIVE INTERPLAY

Low went with Gotze upfront in a false nine role keeping the more rounded No 9 Mario Gomez on the bench. Though Gotze is not a traditional no 9, his game intelligence and constant rotation and movement caused the Ukraine backline problems. Draxler and Muller played initially wide during build up but then came into the half spaces as play progressed forwards. Gotze often moves to the ball-side half space when Kroos was able to look forward thereby creating situational overloads with the Ozil, and the inverted forward on that side. This concentration of attacking talent on one side pulled the Ukraine defence to one side leaving gaps on the other side for the inverted forward and fullback to exploit by a quick switch of play. Khedira also looked to make penetrating runs in behind. Kroos kept the ball constantly ticking switching from side to side and Kovalenko could not get near him to reduce his influence.

The movement infield of Draxler and Muller into the half space left the wings free for Hector and Howedes to bomb into. However, at times Draxler and Muller also held the width allowing the full backs to underlap into the half space and eventually get into the penalty box.

OCCUPATION OF THE HALF SPACE BY GERMANY’S WIDE MIDFIELDERS

 UKRAINE WEAKNESS OUT OF POSSESSION

The Ukraine team sat back initially and allowed Germany and especially Kroos to dominate possession of the ball until the goal. The concession of the goal made for a change in emphasis from about the half hour as they pressed the Germany team high up the pitch and caused them some problems. A goal line clearance from Boateng ensured the Germany’s went in at half time 1-0 up.

In the Second half, they resorted to the seating deep and playing out long and direct balls from the back into the channels for the lone forward to chase. They were lefty wondering what might have been if they had continued with the offensive pressing they had employed in the first half. The individual flair and quality of star names Konoplyanka and Yarmalenko was not enough to get them points from the first game of the championship. They will have to improve their offensive play and coordinate attacking strategy in order to get anything out of their next game.

SUMMARY

Germany looked to overload a side of the pitch in order to isolate players on the other side using Kroos ability to switch possession and dictate play. Any team hoping to get points off the Germany’s will have to restrict his influence on the ball.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS from the BBC here:

http://bbc.in/1UsuROQ

MATCH STATS (courtesy of StatZone)