Germany may have won its opening Euro 2016 game against Ukraine 2-0 Sunday, with talismanic captain Bastian Schweinsteiger scoring late, but the victory also highlighted the need for defensive repairs. The world champion looked to be heading in the right direction when defender Shkodran Mustafi, starting in place of the injured Mats Hummels, headed it into the lead from a free kick, something it had worked on in the run-up to the tournament. However, instead of sitting back and relaxing, Germany coach Joachim Loew had to wait until stoppage time for his team to secure victory when Schweinsteiger netted just minutes after coming on as a substitute. Group C rival Ukraine sliced open Loew's makeshift rearguard time and again in the first half with Mustafi and Jerome Boateng failing to work well together. Boateng did produce a spectacular goalline clearance but full backs Jonas Hector and Benedikt Hoewedes also struggled to contain the speed of wingers Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka. The German defense was always going to be problematic with Hoewedes and Boateng only recently back from long injury absences. Hummels, Boateng's partner in the middle during their 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil, is temporarily sidelined while fellow center back Antonio Ruediger was ruled out of the Euros with torn knee ligaments. Ukraine was unable to sustain the same tempo after the break but its display showed Germany it will need to raise its game against Poland Thursday. "We had to make adjustments in defense," said Loew. "We lost a lot of possession in the first half. "In the second half we were better organized and had more control of the ball." Mustafi's stoppage-time header back to keeper Manuel Neuer that almost gifted the Ukrainians a goal was indicative of the overall performance in defense. "It was an open game, a flowing game," said Mustafi. "We had a situation where we were open — it was a game we did not want." Germany will draw confidence from Schweinsteiger's never-say-die attitude, with the holding midfielder's presence crucial to the team's overall spirit. Schweinsteiger has been injured for months, with his very participation in the Euros in doubt, and his goal could not have come at a better time to inspire the squad as it bids to win the competition for the fourth time. "We know now that we have to raise our level and hopefully we will do it for Poland," said Neuer. — Reuters
