Ukraine star Yarmolenko gained confidence
Ukraine has zeroed in on the European Football Championship. Austria's opponent won the last test run against Cyprus 4-0 (2-0) on Monday. Andrij Jarmolenko managed a brace in Kharkiv (37th / foul penalty, 65th), the other goals were scored by Oleksander Zintschenko (45th + 2 / hand penalty) and Roman Yaremchuk (59th). Cyprus was outnumbered after a red card from the 36th minute. Austria will face the Ukrainians in their third group game on June 21.
Germany celebrated a 7-1 test match success against Latvia eight days before the European Championship hit against France. Robin Gosens (19th) opened the scoring in Düsseldorf. Until the break, the selection of Joachim Löw by Ilkay Gündogan (21st), Thomas Müller (27th), an own goal by Latvian goalkeeper Roberts Ozols (39th) and Serge Gnabry (45th) to 5-0. Timo Werner (50th) and Leroy Sane (76th) struck in the second half. Manuel Neuer, who was honored for his 100th appearance in the national team before kick-off, had to admit defeat in a shot by Aleksejs Saveljevs (75th).
The Ukrainian team boss Andrij Shevchenko had stated before the game against Cyprus that he wanted to choose an “experimental” line-up. “It's just a preparation game, not a final test. We have to get all of our players ready for the euro,” said Shevchenko the day before the game. For example, veteran Andrij Pjatow was in goal, Heorhij Buschtschan is expected at the EM. However, the most famous names played in storm and attack.
Having entered the 4-3-3 system, the Ukrainians determined the game. After good opportunities, the goals came from penalties before the break. After Cyprus’s Andreas Panayiotou saw the red for scoring a goal, West Ham striker Jarmolenko recovered. Manchester City's Zinchenko was also successful from the point in stoppage time.
In the second half there were still goals out of the game. Center forward Yaremchuk dusted off after a nice combination over the naturalized Brazilian Marlos, a clearly deflected shot from Jarmolenko then found its way into the goal. According to statistics, the Ukrainians fired twelve shots at the opposing goal in the end, Cyprus only one.
For Germany, Latvia was a welcome opponent of development. The 1,000 admitted spectators in the Düsseldorf arena had their fun at the presentation of the hosts, who were allowed to combine and score in Löw's EM system with a defensive triple chain. All eleven players who were on the pitch recommended themselves for a starting XI against the French. Above all, Chelsea's Kai Havertz embodied self-confidence and wit. Löw said shortly before the match about the Champions League winner he was “carried by a wave of euphoria” and with his quality he could give the team a lot. Old hand Toni Kroos played again for the first time after his corona infection.
