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Stubborn Poland hold Germany at Euro 16

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Stubborn Poland hold Germany at Euro 16

Poland held Germany to the first 0-0 draw of Euro 2016 as the world champions struggled to break down dogged opponents who will be satisfied with a point.

The result means both sides, who won their opening games, only need a point in their final Group C matches against Ukraine and Northern Ireland respectively on Tuesday to guarantee reaching the last 16.

Ukraine, who have lost their opening two games, cannot progress and will finish bottom of the section.

Germany were playing their first game at the Stade de France since the deadly November attacks in Paris.

They came out zipping the ball around early on, poking and prodding at the Poles but, with focal point Mario Goetze consistently dropping off, they lacked conviction in the final third.

Read also: Russia face Rio 2016 exclusion after attempts to cheat doping tests

The only notable chances fell to Goetze, who drifted a header over the bar in the fourth minute, and Toni Kroos, with a toe-poke in the 15th minute that went wide.

The Germans, eyeing a fourth European title, were clearly frustrated. Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil were booked needlessly after fouls in the midfield in the first half before Jerome Boateng joined them in the referee’s notebook after 67 minutes.

Poland began to take the ascendancy after the break and had the better chances, with Milik shooting wide after striker Robert Lewandowski had tapped a free-kick to him after 57 minutes.

The Bayern Munich forward then saw his club colleague Boateng block a shot destined for the goal.

With the game finally opening up, Ozil’s shot was tipped over the bar spectacularly by Fabianski in the 68th. The midfielder then turned provider, putting in substitute Andre Schuerrle who shot straight at Fabianski.

 

 

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