Germany and Poland played out the first goalless draw of the tournament at the Stade de France in a Group C clash of the UEFA EURO 2016. While Poland were let down by the profligacy of their strikers in front of the goal, reigning World Champions, Germany, were denied by a resilient Polish backline.
Arkadiusz Milik had the best chance of the game, but he failed to beat Manuel Neuer from a from yards out. Polish shot-stopper Lukasz Fabianski had a blinder of a game, as the Swansea City goalkeeper put in an assured display and pulled off some brilliant save, especially from a Mesut Ozil curler in the second half.
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Here are how the player’s fared during the game.
Germany
Manuel Neuer – 6.5/10
The Bayern Munich shot-stopper put in an assured display and was equal to whatever little Poland could offer in terms of goal-scoring chances.
Benedikt Howedes – 6/10
The Schalke man worked tirelessly down the right flank and provided an extra outlet for Joachim Low’s side in attack, but was let down by his crossing.
Jerome Boateng – 7.5/10
The 27-year-old put in a commanding display and didn’t offer Lewandowski or Milik the space to create much problems. The Bayern Munich defender made an excellent tackle to deny Lewandowski, who threatened to find the back of the net from the edge of the box.
Mats Hummels – 7/10
Replacing Mustafi in the starting line-up, Hummels marshalled the defence with aplomb. He was at hand to make some vital interceptions.
Jonas Hector – 5.5/10
Was solid defensively, but was let down by his crossing. Hector didn’t offer much in terms of attacking threat too.
Sami Khedira – 6/10
The Juventus midfielder was booked early in the game, but that didn’t stop him from asserting himself in midfield and the 29-year-old broke up Poland’s play and also shielded the defence.
Toni Kroos – 5.5/10
Kroos had a relatively subdued game as the Real Madrid midfielder could not dominate the game as he is used to. He did, however, drive his team forward, but was wasteful with his set-piece delivery.
Julian Draxler – 4.5/10
Draxler struggled to make his mark on the game and was eventually replaced by Gomez in the 72nd minute.
Mesut Ozil – 6/10
The Arsenal playmaker struggled to break down the Polish defence and was also let down by the movement, or lack of it, in front of him. His left-footed striker looked destined to find the back of the net before Fabianksi pulled off a wonder save.
Thomas Muller – 5.5/10
Muller failed to make his mark on the game and struggled to breakdown the resilient Polish defence. The 26-year-old has failed to find the back of the net at Euro 2016, something Low would be really concerned about.
Mario Gotze – 4/10
An underwhelming performance from Gotze in the false nine role as he cut a peripheral figure for most parts of the game, before being replaced by Schurrle.
Substitutes
Andre Schurrle – 5/10
Came on to replace Gotze in the 66th minute and despite flashes of brilliance was unable to unlock the Polish defence.
Mario Gomez – N/A
Replaced Draxler in the 72nd minute but couldn’t make the desired impact on the game.
Poland
Lukasz Fabianski – 8/10
The former Arsenal shot-stopper put in a display of the highest quality to deny Germany. He was assured while catching the ball and pulled off some brilliant saves, including the full-stretch dive to deny Ozil.
Lukasz Piszczek – 6.5/10
The Borussia Dortmund full-back was able to subdue the threat of Draxler and Hector on the right flank, but failed to offer much offensively.
Kamil Glik – 6.5/10
His loose pass in the first half could have proved costly, but made up for his mistake with a strong showing in the heart of defence.
Michal Pazdan – 7.5/10
The 28-year-old enjoyed an excellent game and was a rock at the back. Pazdan was good in the air and afforded little space to Gotze and company, while being at hand to clear anything that looked threatening.
Artur Jedrzejczyk – 6/10
Was solid defensively and was able to nullify the threat of Muller, but failed to have the same impact going forward.
Jakub Blaszczykowski 6/10
Used his experience to help neutralize the German threat on the right flank, but failed to have an impact in the fina third of the pitch before being replaced by Kaputska.
Grzegorz Krychowiak – 7/10
The Sevilla man dominated midfield, winning a number of loose balls and also stifled Ozil and Kroos from having a telling impact on the game. He also tried to spray the ball forward to find Milik or Lewandowski.
Krzysztof Maczynski – 6.5/10
Shielded the back four by watchful interceptions and incisive tackles, while barely misplacing a pass. Was booked in the first half and thus was withdrawn in the second half.
Kamil Grosicki – 7.5/10
The 28-year-old was Poland’s biggest attacking threat during the game as he put in some teasing crosses from the left flank, and if not for the profligacy of strikers in front of him could have had a couple of assists.
Arkadiusz Milik – 3/10
After his heroics in the first game helped Poland get all the three points, the forward missed a host of chances, which probably cost them the three points. Milik failed to find the back of the net from a few yards out with Neuer almost beaten and followed it up with another mis-kick from 10 yards.
Robert Lewandowski – 5.5/10
The Bayern Munich striker didn’t have the impact he would have hoped for as apart from some fancy touches and clever movement, he could not trouble the German defence. He was denied by Boateng’s crunching tackle.
Substitutes
Tomasz Jodlowiec – 5.5/10
Relaced Maczynski in the 76th minute and ensured that his side didn’t concede in the dying stages.
Bartosz Kapustka – N/A
Replaced Blaszczykowski in the 80th minute but didn’t have much impact on the game.
Slawomir Peszko – N/A
Came on to replace Grosicki in the 87th minute and was booked for a rash challenge on Ozil.
