Euro Wrap: Germany Start With a Win, Croatia beat Turkey & More

Bastian Schweinsteiger marked his return from injury by sealing a 2-0 win for Germany over Ukraine.

(Photo: AP)

Germany: 2 (Mustafi (19’), Schweinsteiger (90’+2)
Ukraine: 0

Germany began its campaign to add the 2016 European Championship to its 2014 World Cup with a promising 2-0 victory over Ukraine on Sunday, while England and Russia were threatened with expulsion from the tournament.

Shkodran Mustafi’s header set Germany on its way to a win that was sealed by substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger in the second minute of injury time, just two minutes after the midfielder had come on to the pitch.

The day’s earlier matches both ended in 1-0 victories, with a wonder strike from Luka Modric seeing Croatia past Turkey in a bruising encounter and Arkadiusz Milik scoring for Poland against Northern Ireland.

Germany’s Shkodran Mustafi, left, celebrates with his teammates Jerome Boateng and Sami Khedira after scoring the opening goal. (Photo: AP)

Germany surged forward on the break and Mesut Ozil provided the perfect cross from the left flank for his teammate to hammer into the net.

“A Bastian Schweinsteiger is worth his weight in gold,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

Schweinsteiger, who suffered his second serious knee injury of the year in training on March 22 and hadn’t played since, could barely believe the way his luck had turned.

“Incredible that something like this can happen, you can only wish for it,” he said.

Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrates with Germany coach Joachim Loew after scoring his side’s second goal. (Photo: AP)

Turkey 0 - 1 Croatia

There were similar feelings for Modric after he met a high clearance with a 25-meter shot that beat Volkan Babacan in the Turkey goal.

The Real Madrid midfielder wasn’t aware that a Croatia fan had breached the stadium security and got onto the pitch to celebrate with the players.

“After scoring this kind of goal I didn’t even notice at first,” Modric said of the incident. “If he went on the pitch, he went with a really positive attitude.

Poland’s Arkadiusz Milik, left, and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny celebrate after winning 1-0 during the Euro 2016 Group C match. (Photo: AP)

Poland 1 - 0 Northern Ireland

Poland fully deserved its victory over a Northern Ireland side that looked out of its depth on the big stage.

With Poland forward Robert Lewandowski, qualifying’s top scorer, marked out of large stretches of the game, there was space for others to make an impact. One was attacking midfielder Milik, who scored the decisive goal with a low shot in the 51st minute.

Poland could have easily scored more were it not for some erratic shooting.

Their players might learn something from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose Sweden side plays Ireland on what should be a great day of football on Monday.

Spain, which is bidding for a third consecutive European crown, takes on the Czech Republic in their opening match, while the action ends with a promising Belgium side facing Italy.