Eight-time European champions Germany began their search for a first Euros title in 12 years with a 2-0 win over Poland.
It took until the second half for the deadlock to be broken on Friday night in St Gallen, but goals from Jule Brand and Lea Schuller earned Christian Wueck’s side the win they deserved.
In truth, it could have been more had it not been for an inspired Polish side, appearing in the first major tournament in their 44-year history.
Lea Schuller scored Germany’s second of the evening
Germany – who had scored four or more in each of their last five matches – were frustrated in the first half. Poland defended for their lives at times, restricting their esteemed opponents to just two shots on target.
The fact captain Giulia Gwinn limped off injured before the break soured things further for Germany’s while Schuller’s glaring miss in stoppage time no doubt helped increase the intensity of head coach Wueck’s half-time dressing-down.
Germany’s Giulia Gwinn was in tears as she was taken off the pitch injured
But whatever he said to his players helped them finally establish the lead. Within five minutes of the restart, Brand cut in off the right, shifted the ball onto her left and fired into the top left corner, leaving Kinga Szemik with no chance whatsoever.
Chelsea’s Sjoeke Nusken should have extended the lead just after the hour, but inexplicably headed wide from inside the six-yard box, before Schuller planted a free header over the bar.
Ewa Pajor’s late chance was expertly dealt with by Ann-Katrin Berger
The latter made up for it within a minute of said missed chance, however, guiding home a header after Brand picked her out with a cross from the right.
Poland’s biggest chance of the night came after 81 minutes, when Ann-Katrin Berger produced a really sharp stop to tip Ewa Pajor’s header over the bar. But while they were defeated on the night, conceding just twice against the Germans should fill them with confidence for the remainder of the tournament.
