Germany’s Jerome Boateng (second from left) celebrates with team mates after scoring his team’s first goal in the Round of 16 game against Slovakia at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium near Lille on Sunday. (Photo: AP)
Jerome Boateng scored his first international goal to set Germany on their way to a 3-0 win against Slovakia at Euro 2016 on Sunday as the world champions cruised into the quarter-finals.
Boateng opened his account eight minutes into his 63rd international appearance and Joachim Loew’s side never looked back against outclassed opponents.
Mesut Ozil had a penalty saved soon after but Julian Draxler set up Mario Gomez to double the lead two minutes before half-time and the impressive Draxler then completed the scoring just after the hour mark.
There was never any threat of a repeat of Slovakia’s 3-1 win when the teams met in a friendly just four weeks ago and Germany move on to a last-eight tie against either reigning champions Spain or old rivals Italy next weekend.
The world champions underlined their credentials and sent a clear message to their Euro rivals.
Slovakia conceded a penalty in the 13th minute when skipper Martin Skrtel grappled with Gomez as the two went for a high ball in the box. Skrtel was booked for his intervention, but Slovakia were let off the hook as Mesut Ozil’s kick was well saved by Kozacik diving to his left. Excluding shoot-outs, it was the first penalty missed by a German player in a Euro finals match.
The miss did nothing to halt Germany’s momentum, though, and it remained one-way traffic after that with Ozil fizzing a half-volley inches past as the ball dropped after Gomez and Jan Durica had gone up to contest another cross into the area.
Germany increased their as Draxler combined with Jonas Hector down the left before heading for the byline and cutting the ball back for Gomez to finish at the near post.
The Germans then put the game to bed on 63 minutes, Mats Hummels heading down a corner for Draxler, who volleyed in at the back post to get the goal.
