A clash of Group C heavyweights saw Germany and Poland play out a 0-0 draw at the Stade de France early this morning.
With three points already in the bag for both teams, the opportunity to take a relaxed approach to what could have been a tricky encounter was taken. A lack of incisive football from two squads filled with talent saw a combined total of just three shots on target – with Arkadiusz Milik failing to take full advantage of a header from yards out the best chance for Adam Nawałka’s men, while Mesut Ozil came the closest for the world champions, with a curling strike that tested the fingertips of Lucasz Fabianski.
Outisde90’s Hugh Schuitemaker takes a look at how the players performed in this tournament’s first goalless draw.
Germany
Manuel Neuer – 6: The relaxed nature of the contest meant there was little for the Munich custodian to do. Distribution could have been better though.
Benedikt Howedes – 7: Particularly good in the air during this contest and shutdown a lot of the Poland attacks trying to come through his side.
Jerome Boateng – 7: Very strong when going for the tackle and his passing from the back was on point.
Mats Hummels – 6.5: The defensive expert’s presence was another asset for Die Mannschaft. Played well against Lewandowski and had a chance at a header on the hour-mark.
Jonas Hector – 7: Had plenty of space to move along the wing and sent an astonishing 11 crosses into the box.
Sami Khedria – 5.5: Not as influential as in the opening game, went wayward with his three shots on goal and had a tricky time against Poland’s Kamil Grosiki.
Toni Kroos – 7: Composed as usual in the screening role. Delivered a number of crosses into the box and generated three key chances to score.
Thomas Muller – 5: Still yet to make a solid impact this tournament and found little space on the right-wing. Only had one shot on goal.
Mesut Ozil – 7: May have had the best chance for the Germans when his curling strike was tipped over the bar in the 69th minute and created three other chances.
Julian Draxler – 6.5: The Wolfsburg youngster continues to impress in national colours, providing another source the generate attacks from the wide areas. Substituted in the second-half.
Mario Gotze – 5: Came close in the opening minutes but his influence disappeared from there on. Was replaced by Andre Schurrle on the hour mark.
Substitutes
Andre Schurrle – 6: A decent cameo for the midfielder, had plenty of the ball just outside the box but could not spark the needed attack.
Mario Gomez – 5: Did not see enough service to the 18-yard box after his introduction.
Poland
Lukasz Fabianski – 6.5: Made a couple of decent saves to deny Ozil and Gotze. Will be happy with the clean sheet against the world champions.
Lukasz Piszczek – 7: Recorded a stunning 12 individual clearances as Germany pressured the right-side.
Michał Pazdan – 6: Gave up little ground to Muller, but did nothing to steal the show in a solid defensive effort.
Kamil Glik – 7: Also had to make 10 clearances of his own inside the 18-yard box.
Artur Jedrzejczyk – 5.5: Won all attempted tackles and aerial duels, but his passing let Poland down.
Jakub Blaszczykowski – 6: Got lost in the midfield shuffle, adding little to the attack before his 80th minute substitution.
Grzegorz Krychowiak – 6.5: Had little space to work with through the centre, but won all three of his attempted take-ons.
Krzysztof Mączynski – 5: Still looks to be struggling for full fitness and was taken of with 15 minutes to play.
Kamil Grosicki – 7: Perhaps Poland’s best attacker – created three chances and sent three crosses into the box.
Robert Lewandowski – 6: Was shut out of the 18-yard box when it mattered most, failing to get a decent shot on goal away during the match.
Arkadiusz Milik – 6.5: Put a close-range header just wide of the post at the start of the second-half that probably should have been scored.
Substitutes
Tomasz Jodlowiec – 5: Could not break through the German lines after coming on.
Bartosz Kapustka – 4: Misplaced one of his two attempted passes inside the last 10 minutes.
Slawomir Peszko – N/A: Only played the final moments.
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