Germany held at home by Ukraine in Euro 2024 warm-up clash

Germany were held to a goalless draw by Ukraine in a warm-up match before Euro 2024.

The spoils were shared in Nuremberg, with neither side able to find the breakthrough at Max-Morlock-Stadion.

Germany squandered the best opportunity of the first half in the 15th minute when Pascal Gross’ deep cross found the unmarked Ilkay Gundogan inside six-yard box, but the skipper was unable to make the decisive connection.

Maximilian Beier was introduced for his senior international debut just before the hour mark. The Hoffenheim striker almost made the dream start, rattling the woodwork with his second touch and drawing a smart save out of Anatoliy Trubin soon after.

Trubin came to Ukraine’s rescue again in the 78th minute with superb reflexes to repel Chris Fuhrich’s snap shot, but opposite number Manuel Neuer almost presented the visitors with victory two minutes from time.

Racing out of goal to retrieve a long ball, the goalkeeper’s loose pass was intercepted and substitute Artem Dovbyk was sent clean through, only for the Girona striker to be rightly ruled offside.

Deniz Undav was thwarted by Trubin with the final chance of the game in stoppage time, as the spoils were shared in Nuremberg’s first international fixture for seven years.

Germany were missing a couple of key players due to the Champions League final in the likes of Toni Kroos and Niklas Fullkrug.

Nevertheless, ahead of their final warm-up match against Greece on Friday, there is still plenty for Julian Nagelsmann to ponder, as his side were unable to find the net, despite 27 shots and an xG of 2.4.

Beier carried their greatest threat when he came on, with the Hoffenheim striker desperate to make a mark on his debut – but the woodwork and an in-form Trubin kept him at bay.

Fuhrich and Undav also made a decent impact after coming on and, to their credit, the trio have certainly given Nagelsmann something to think about when making his final selections.

It is only the second time that Germany have failed to score against Ukraine in their 10 meetings to date, while they have now won just five of their 14 matches since the 2022 World Cup.

By contrast, the visitors recorded another positive result on which to build momentum. They have only lost one of their 11 games since Serhiy Rebrov took charge last June.

In only his sixth senior appearance – and in the absence of Kroos – Gross did his chances of featuring regularly at Euro 2024 no harm with a fine display in the middle of the park.

The Brighton midfielder did his best to make something happen for Germany, leading the way for final-third entries (20), touches (152) and completed passes (131), while only Maximilian Mittelstadt (12) bettered his tally of nine crosses.

Germany: Neuer 6, Kimmich 7, Tah 6, Anton 7, Mittelstadt 8, Andrich 6, Gross 8*, Wirtz 6, Gundogan 6, Musiala 8, Havertz 7. Subs: Fuhrich 7, Undav 7, Beier 8, Muller 5, Koch 5, Pavlovic 5.

Ukraine: Trubin 8, Konoplya 7, Zabarnyi 7, Svatok 7, Matviienko 7, Zinchenko 7, Tsyhankov 7, Stepanenko 7, Shaparenko 6, Mudryk 7, Yaremchuk 7. Subs: Brazhko 6, Zubkov 6, Yarmolenko 7, Dovbyk 6, Sudakov 5, Tymchyk 5.

15′ – CHANCE: Gundogan should score! The Germany skipper ghosts into the six-yard box to meet Gross’ deep cross, but he cannot connect cleanly with the header.

61′ – OFF THE BAR: Almost the fairytale start for Beier! Timing his run beautifully and latching onto Andrich’s throughball, his fierce strike from a tight angle crashes against the woodwork with Trubin beaten.

63′ – BEIER GOES CLOSE AGAIN: The Hoffenheim striker brilliantly controls in the box and unleashes a low drive that Trubin does well to turn away.

78′ – GREAT SAVE: Germany press for the opening goal and Fuhrich is found in space in the box. The substitute gets a shot away, but Trubin springs across to claw it out.

88′ – A LET-OFF FOR NEUER: In trademark fashion, the Germany skipper flies out of goal to retrieve possession. However, a loose pass goes straight to an opposing player, who immediately looks for Dovbyk to potentially race through on an open goal. Although, Neuer’s blushes are spared as the Girona striker was in an offside position when the ball was headed to him.

90+2′ – LATE CHANCE: The level of anticipation inside the stadium increases as Germany launch a late counter. Undav is played in, but Trubin demonstrates smart reflexes to keep out his low drive.

• Germany are unbeaten in all 10 of their meetings with Ukraine, winning five and drawing five.
• Although, the DFB failed to find the net in the fixture for the first time since another goalless draw in June 1997.