Muller and Rodrigo find target as heavyweights share spoils

GERMANY and Spain remain unbeaten since the 2016 European Championship after Thomas Muller’s superb strike earned the hosts a draw. Spain, inspired by the enduring excellence of Andres Iniesta, raced into an early lead and some of the football they produced during a beguiling first period drew gasps even from the German locals. Manchester City’s David Silva and Real Madrid’s Isco buzzed around Iniesta but it was the Barcelona icon who unlocked the German defence inside six minutes. Silva and Isco combined, Iniesta looked up, and Rodrigo Moreno darted in behind. Iniesta picked his run out with a low pass that eluded Mats Hummels and the Valencia striker Rodrigo, selected ahead of substitute Diego Costa, clipped into the goal. Yet the resilience of Joachim Low’s team should not be underestimated. Jonas Hector volleyed wide from distance and as Spain’s midfield dropped too deep, Muller set himself from 25 yards and curled a superb strike into the top corner of David De Gea’s goal. In the second half, Julian Draxler whipped a rightfoot strike around two defenders and De Gea appeared to have his path blocked but he somehow palmed it wide. Spain responded, as a splendid tika-taka move involving Silva and Jordi Alba teed up Isco, but this time Marc-Andre Ter Stegen intervened. Germany sprang on the counterattack and Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan’s low rasping strike forced De Gea back into action, as he sprawled to his right to preserve the draw.