Euro 2016: Schweinsteiger strikes as Germany beat Ukraine 2-0

Veteran midfielder came on in 90th minute and quickly put away a perfect pass from Mesut Ozil for deciding goal

Afp June 13, 2016

germany 039 s midfielder bastian schweinsteiger c celebrates with germany 039 s midfielder mesut oezil l after scoring a goal during the euro 2016 group c football match between germany and ukraine at the stade pierre mauroy in villeneuve d 039 ascq near lille on june 12 2016 photo afp

Germany's midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (C) celebrates with Germany's midfielder Mesut Oezil (L) after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 group C football match between Germany and Ukraine at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq near Lille on June 12, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

LILLE, FRANCE: Veteran midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger had time for three touches of the ball and scored with one as world champions Germany started their European Championship campaign with a 2-0 win over Ukraine.

The 31-year-old Manchester United midfielder came on in the 90th minute and quickly put away a perfect pass from Mesut Ozil for the deciding goal.

Euro 2016: Payet stuns Romania as France emerge victorious in tournament opener

With fan violence again tainting the tournament, Germany's win followed 1-0 victories for Poland over Northern Ireland and Croatia over Turkey.

PHOTO: AFP

Schweinsteiger is coming back from a three month knee ligament layoff and the the joy of his first international goal in five years apparently took a toll.

"I ran so hard in the celebrations that I'm a bit out of breath still,’’ said Schweinsteiger while talking after the match. "It was amazing for that to happen, it's the kind of thing you can only wish for, but the most important thing is the team wins.”

Euro 2016: Russian captain steals point against England

Defender Shkodran Mustafi headed the opener in the first half, but goalkeeper Manuel Neus had to make several key saves and Jerome Boateng made a spectacular goal line clearance to block a sure equaliser.

PHOTO: AFP

Germany coach Joachim Loew hailed Boateng, who was the target of right-wing German politician Alexander Gauland this month.

Gauland said the Germans would not want Boateng as their neighbour and that the national team was no longer "German in the classical sense."

"It is good to have Jerome Boateng as your neighbour in the defence," countered Loew. "He sees dangerous situations, he reacted and very clearly the ball was not behind the line."

The evening was only blemished by fighting between German and Ukraine supporters in Lille before the game.

German police said they arrested 21 known hooligans who tried to get across the border. Another 50 leading suspects took part in the skirmishes which followed the major battles between Russia and England fans in Marseille was also arrested.