EURO 2016 ROUND OF 16
MESUT’S NO BIG MISS
IF THE Germans can still win even when they are missing penalties, what hope is there for the rest at Euro 2016?
Mesut Ozil had a spot-kick saved by Matus Kozacik after a foul by Martin Skrtel on Mario Gomez, but Germany still ended up with their biggest win in the competition in 20 years.
Jerome Boateng scored his first goal for his country and Julian Draxler scored his first competitive goal for them too as Slovakia were blown away.
Gomez also grabbed his second of the tournament, equalling Jurgen Klinsmann’s record of five goals for Germany in European Championship finals. Boateng set the ball rolling with
Republic of Ireland were massive underdogs but gave the hosts a hell of a scare from the moment they took the lead after Shane Long had been fouled by Paul Pogba.
“The players could not have put any more into the game,” said Ireland boss Martin O’Neill. “The tournament has been great for the players, good for some of the younger players who have come of age, and great for the supporters.”
France looked shaky after Brady’s spot-kick and could have fallen 2-0 behind when Daryl Murphy went close.
But Deschamps’ men were transformed after the break.
Griezmann levelled it up in the 57th minute with a superb header and then made it 2-1 four minutes later.
Any hope of a comeback ended when Shane Duffy saw red in the 67th minute for tripping Griezmann. a 25-yard volley which took a deflection off Milan Skriniar on its way in, before Ozil fluffed his lines from the spot.
But Gomez spared the Arsenal star’s blushes with a tap-in after a magical piece of skill from Draxler, who volleyed in Germany’s third in the second half.
Gomez praised Wolfsburg star Draxler, saying: “He has two magic feet and I’m happy for him that this has led to an important goal.
“Now we will play Italy or Spain and they will demand a lot more from us. But it doesn’t matter who we play now.”