Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Draxler dazzles as Germany cruise into last eight

LILLE, France (Reuters) - Germany's Julien Draxler repaid the faith of coach Joachim Low with a dazzling display featuring a volleyed goal and an assist as they thumped Slovakia 3-0 to book a Euro 2016 quarter-final with holders Spain or Italy.

Draxler dazzles as Germany cruise into last eight
(Reuters)

Brought in to replace the lacklustre Mario Goetze, the 22-year-old winger tormented Slovakia's defence with his dribbling and quick feet, creating a first-half goal for Mario Gomez and scoring himself with a superb volley in the second.

The world champions went ahead when central defender Boateng, who had been passed fit after an injury scare, connected with a clearance in the eighth minute to volley home from 25 metres for his first international goal.

The Germans then saw Mesut Ozil's weak 13th minute penalty saved but Gomez made no mistake two minutes from halftime when he tapped home a perfect cut-back from the marauding Draxler who added the third with a fine strike just past the hour mark.

"We know his capabilities. He has two magic feet and I'm happy for him that it led to a goal. He always gives for the side and I'm happy for him," Gomez said of the Vfl Wolfsburg winger, who was instructed to take on his man by Loew.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Draxler added: "He (Loew) gave me a lot of self-confidence, trusted me and wanted me to search for a lot of one-on-ones.

"I think we were superior and well deserving of a victory. It was nice to be in front after the goal by Boateng. We could even afford not to score the penalty."

DEFLECTED VOLLEY

Comfortable with either foot, Draxler utilised his speed and intelligence to good effect throughout, helping his side pin the Slovaks in their own half for much of the opening period.

Boateng opened the scoring with a deflected volley following a corner and ran to celebrate with team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt, who helped him recover from a muscle injury sustained in their last group game with Northern Ireland.

Ozil's weak penalty, well saved by Matus Kozacik, was one of the few blemishes in an otherwise superb Germany performance.

Slovakia may have got the better of the Germans in a pre-Euro 2016 friendly but, apart from a few forays forward, they were all at sea.

Five minutes before halftime Juraj Kucka forced a flying save from Germany captain Manuel Neuer as he sent Peter Pekarik's cross toward the top corner.

Germany hit back immediately, Draxler turning Kucka inside out before squaring for Gomez to stab the ball home from close range to make it 2-0.

Slovakia were marginally better in the second half but when the excellent Draxler hooked a volley into the top corner in the 63rd minute there was no way back.

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; editing by Ken Ferris)


3 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world