World champions Germany are on track for their fourth European championship title after 1972, 1980 and 1996. Joachim Löw's troops booked their place in the EURO 2016 quarter-finals with a clear-cut 3-0 victory over Slovakia on Sunday evening and will encounter holders Spain or Italy in the next round.
The 44,312 crowd in Lille saw the Germans dominate the match from the start and take the lead early in the contest. Jérôme Boateng, who was rated doubtful before the meeting due to a calf problem sustained in the last group match, opened the scoring in the eighth minute with his first goal for Germany. Shortly before half-time Mario Gomez put away one of the many chances for Germany before Julian Draxler wrapped things up after the hour mark.
“We absolutely wanted to prevent them getting into the game, we wanted to press high up the field and attack down the wings,” Boateng explained after his 63rd Germany appearance. “I hit it quite well, I'm glad it went in. But I'm especially happy for the team, who played very well today,” the centre-back commented on his maiden goal.
“We could have scored one or two more goals. I think we're absolutely on track. Now the heavyweights await us of course,” said keeper Manuel Neuer, who led Germany out onto the field as captain again. Besides Boateng, who was subbed off after 70 minutes, and Neuer, Thomas Müller and Joshua Kimmich made appearances, completing the Bayern quartet in the starting line-up. Mario Götze failed to get off the bench this time.
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