Schweinsteiger seals professional German win over Ukraine
Lille - World champion Germany was bailed out by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer as goals by Shkodran Mustafi and Bastian Schweinsteiger secured a 2-0 win over Ukraine in their Euro 2016 opener in Lille.
Valencia defender Mustafi powered home the opener from Toni Kroos' free-kick after just 19 minutes of Sunday's game.
1st career int'l goal for Shkodran Mustafi, putting #GER up 1-0
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 12, 2016
Since 1980, Germany has 12 headed goal at the EURO, t-most with #ENG & #POR
And Schweinsteiger wrapped up the win in injury time, moments after coming off the bench. The goal was his first for his country in five years and made sure of a perfect start for Germany in its quest for a fourth European crown to match its four World Cup triumphs.
However, Germany was also thankful to captain for the night Neuer, as he made stops from Yevhen Konoplyanka and Yevhen Khacheridi, while Jerome Boateng made a spectacular clearance off his own line.
Related: Watch: Germany's Boateng desperately clears Ukraine effort off goal line
Next up for Germany is a heated battle for top spot in Group C with neighbour Poland on Thursday in Paris, after the Poles overcame Northern Ireland 1-0 thanks to Arkadiusz Milik's strike earlier on Sunday.