Germany training ahead of Ukraine tie. Twitter[/caption]Internet Desk: Reigning World Cup winners Germany kick off their campaign against a tricky opponent on Sunday night, and come into the tournament off the back of some questionable form.
The qualifying campaign started badly, and Germany were then beaten 3-2 by England in March - a match in which the English tore apart the world champions' defence late on.
Germany are a classic 'tournament team', however, and as the Joachim Low quotes below make clear, they have every confidence in their ability to turn it on when it matters.
Germany are hoping that Mats Hummels will be fit for the match, despite not having played since May 21 with a calf tear while Ukraine are at full fitness.
Joachim Low said, "I believe that players like Thomas Muller,Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels, who now lead the side with Manuel Neuer, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira, will get the team on course. This team wants to be crowned European champions.
"I've been coach of Germany for a long time now and in spite of all of our friendly and qualifying games, it's the tournaments which give me the greatest motivation. We want to prove ourselves once again and confirm our success. Once you've had this feeling of glory, then it's something which drives you on to feel it again."
Ukraine manager Mykhaylo Fomenko said, "There are no weak opponents at the EURO finals and the opening game against the world champions will be double motivation for our players to perform. The first match will set the tone for our EURO. It's a very important event for our country and our fans."
Germany and Ukraine have met five times, with two Germany wins and three draws.Germany could beat Ukraine for the first time outside the borders of their home country.
Both Germany wins came in home matches, the three matches in Ukraine ended in a draw.Germany and Ukraine met in qualifying for the 1998 World Cup in France. Germany won the home match 2-0 in Bremen (Olivier Bierhoff 63’, Mario Basler 71’), the match at Kiev, Ukraine ended goalless.T
hey also met in the playoff for the 2002 World Cup, with a 1-1 draw in Kiev (Gennadi Zubov 18’; Michael Ballack 31’) and Germany winning 4-1 in Dortmund (Ballack, 4’ 51’, Oliver Neuville 11’, Marko Rehmer 15’; Andri Shevchenko 90’). The most recent match between the sides was a friendly at Kiev on 11 November 2011, result 3-3.
Besiktas teammates Mario Gomez and Denis Boyko will meet in this match. Gomez can become the third player to score against his own club goalkeeper at the EUROs after Paul Gascoigne against his Rangers teammate Andy Goram in 1996 and Samir Nasri against his Manchester City teammate Joe Hart in 2012.
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