Germany vs Poland: EURO 2016 Group C Preview & Prediction

Two teams that picked up wins in their opening Group C matches at Euro 2016, Germany and Poland, meet at the Stade de France on Thursday night, in a game where the winner will secure their place in the knockout stages of the tournament.

The two nations are fierce rivals, so not only are national bragging rights at stake, but the opportunity for one side to maintain their unbeaten start to the competition means we should have a rather tasty match on our hands in Paris.

Germany will hope to build on their 2-0 victory over Ukraine, but also look to improve at the back as they looked suspect in defence on numerous occasions, despite keeping a clean sheet. It took some splendid saves from Manuel Neuer, and a heroic goal-line clearance from Jerome Boateng, to keep the Ukrainians at bay.

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos was the star – bossing the game with 112 completed passes – and it was his free-kick that set up Shkodran Mustafi’s opening goal, before Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger secured the three points with a fine finish on the counter attack in second half stoppage time.

On the other hand, Poland dominated their Group C match against Northern Ireland in Nice, securing a 1-0 victory and winning their opening group game at a Euro finals for the first ever time.

Talisman Robert Lewandowski, who plays in Germany with Bayern Munich, was relatively quiet throughout, with fellow attacker Arkadiusz Milik netting the winner for Poland just after the interval.

Germany will be in confident mood against the Poles – they have kept eight clean sheets in their last 12 fixtures against Thursday night’s opponents, and won eight of their last 10 games at European Championship finals.

Bastian Schweinsteiger scores the second German goal past Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov. Photo: Mark Leech / Offside

Team News:

Mats Hummels could return at the heart of Germany’s defence after he missed their opening game through injury, but his inclusion would see either Boating, or goalscorer Mustafi, dropped.

Joachim Low was boosted by the impact of talismanic midfielder Schweinsteiger, who came off the bench in injury time to score in his first appearance since March. However, the Die Mannschaft coach has confirmed that Schweinsteiger is still not ready to play 90 minutes.

Lewandowski will be hoping to get off the mark for Poland when he faces some of his club team-mates. The top goalscorer in qualifying with 13 goals will look to continue his promising strike partnership with Milik.

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is a doubt for the game due to a thigh injury, meaning Swansea City’s Lukasz Fabiankski could replace him between the sticks.

FIFA World Ranking: Germany – 4th; Poland – 27th
Best European Championships Finish: Germany – Winners (1972, 1980, 1996); Poland – Group Stage (2008, 2012, 2016)
Previous Meeting: Germany 3-1 Poland (September 4, 2015 – Euro 2016 Qualifying)
Form: Germany – LLWLWW; Poland – WWWLDW
Key Men: Germany – Toni Kroos; Poland – Robert Lewandowksi
Shoot Says: Germany 2-1 Poland