Defender’s rare goal gives first to Germans
Germany advanced to the quarterfinals of Euro 2012 on Sunday as defender Lars Bender scored his first international goal to seal their 2-1 win over Denmark which put the Danes out.
After Portugal’s 2-1 win over Holland in Kharkiv, another three points at Arena Lviv confirmed Germany as Group B winners with three victories while Portugal moved on as runners-up from the so-called “Group of Death.”
“The match was just as tough as we thought it would be,” admitted Germany coach Joachim Loew. “We lacked the killer instinct in the first half, which would have made it easier, and then Denmark scored. We showed maturity in the second half, but we can still improve.”
The Germans will now play Friday’s quarter-final against Group A runners-up Greece in Gdansk, their Euro 2012 base, while Portugal will play Group A winners, the Czech Republic, in Warsaw on Thursday.
“We have to be disappointed, but I am not disappointed with the team,” said Denmark coach Morten Olsen. “It was a fantastic performance and we have played against one of the world’s elite, but unfortunately we paid the price for our carelessness.”
Lukas Podolski, who was making his 100th appearance for Germany, celebrated his century with the opening goal 19 minutes in, which was cancelled out by a Michael KrohnDehli tally just five minutes later before Bender’s late winner.
“Independent of the goal, that was my first start (for Germany), so it was something special,” beamed Bender. “. . . I just saw the goal in front of me and it was a bit lucky.”