World Champion and Group C winners Germany, who didn’t concede a goal in the group stage for the first of its instance since 1996, will take on Slovakia to seal their berth in the quarter-final of Euro 2016.
Euro 2016: Battle for the quarter-final Germany Vs Slovakia
Germany centre-back Jerome Boateng has recovered from the calf injury and is likely to play the match
Two players of Slovakia have been battling muscle injuries- defender Dusan Svento and midfielder Robert Mak.
MATCH PREVIEW
This time, German strikers didn’t play the game as they are known for. Manager Joachim Low’s side have scored only three goals in the group stage. Their defence has looked very strong – admittedly in the face of good players.
The last goals they conceded were against last 16 opponents Slovakia. Germans lost the match by 3-1 less than a month ago which was played out in Augsburg.
Slovakia will be confident of that victory, but they are aware that the things will be very different this time around.
Slovakia has impressed with his game beating Russia and played a goalless draw with England in Group B. They know that they have the potential to frustrate the big teams and will play defensive if necessary.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Germany won seven games and Slovakia won three in the last 10 face off.
Slovakia won the last match with 3-1 on 29th May.
Both have met once before in knockout matches. Germany beat Slovakia home as well as away in qualifying for Euro 2008.
Germany
- Germany has lost only one game and won 13 of their last 16 games and drawing two at major tournaments.
- They have not conceded a goal and are one of two teams along with Poland. They kept three clean sheets in all their group games at a major tournament, the last time did at Euro 1996 where they lift the tournament trophy.
- The last match they played in Lille won 2-0 against Ukraine in their opening game at this tournament.
- 9 % possession Germany have in their first three games which are the highest ratio so far at Euro 2016.
- In last eight games at Euro, Thomas Muller hasn’t scored a single goal. He has 10 goals in 13 World Cup games.
Slovakia
- Slovakia won the match against Russia on the ground of Lille in their Group B, they won 2-1.
- This is the second appearance of Slovakia in the knockout stages of a major tournament. In 2010 World Cup, they reached the last 16.
- At major tournaments, Slovakia has won only two games out of their seven matches. One against Italy by 3-2 at World Cup 2010 and 2-1 against Russia at this tournament.
- They kept their first ever clean sheet at a major tournament when they played a 0-0 draw with England in their final group game.
- In his last four competitive games for Slovakia, Marek Hamsik has scored three goals and created one assist.
Teams
Germany
Forwards: M Goetze, Mario Gomez, A Schuerrle, L Podolski
Defenders: J Boateng, Mats Hummels, B Hoewedes, E Can, Jonas Hector, S Mustafi, Antonio Ruediger
Goalkeepers: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, B Leno, Manuel Neuer
Midfielders: J Draxler, T Mueller, Joshua Kimmich, S Khedira, J Weigl, Toni Kroos, M Ozil, L Sane, B Schweinsteiger
Slovakia
Goalkeepers: M Kozáčik, J Mucha, J Novota
Defenders: P Pekarík, M Škriniar, Martin Škrtel, N Gyömbér, Ján Ďurica, K Saláta, T Hubočan, D Švento
Midfielders: M Hamšík, Juraj Kucka, M Stoch, Vladimír Weiss, R Mak, Patrik Hrošovský, Ján Greguš, V Pečovský, Stanislav Šesták, O Duda
Forwards: M Ďuriš, A Nemec
