Uefa Euro 2024 hosts Germany could not find a way past fellow finalists Ukraine as the sides began their preparations for the tournament with a 0-0 draw at Nurnberg’s Max-Morlock-Stadion.
In a dominant display which intensified after the break, Die Mannschaft went closest when Hoffenheim forward Maximilian Beier hit the crossbar in the 61st minute with his first touch as a senior international.
Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Pascal Gross and Bayer Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich were among the home players to send shots over the target as Germany found accuracy with only five of their 27 attempts.
🇩🇪🤝🇺🇦 The first friendly game before Euro-2024 ends in a goalless draw against Germany pic.twitter.com/KUJOPCVh2V
— Ukrainian Association of Football (@uafukraine) June 3, 2024
Germany, who ensured they have never lost against Ukraine in 10 meetings, play Greece in Monchengladbach on Friday, a week before they feature in the opening game of Euro 2024 against Scotland.
Germany v Ukraine: Result ends level
Germany had an abundance of chances to extend their winning run to three matches, having beaten France and the Netherlands in warm-up games in March.
Several experienced players were missing for Nagelsmann, including Dortmund’s Niclas Füllkrug and Nico Schlotterbeck and Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos and Antonio Rüdiger, who had played in Saturday’s Uefa Champions League final.
Beier’s show of intent was arguably the greatest positive, immediately rattling the woodwork and forcing a save from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin with a powerful drive two minutes later.
The newcomer scored 16 goals in the Bundesliga last season – two behind Deniz Undav, who also came on as a substitute and tested Trubin after being set up by Beier, as well as going close again during added time.
Undav has been on loan to Stuttgart from Brighton, and one of his team-mates at Die Roten, Chris Fuhrich, also proved a threat when he entered the action on a night which became a promising show of Germany’s squad depth.
Ukraine rarely threatened but Manuel Neuer saved well when Roman Yaremchuk took aim six minutes from half-time and Andriy Yarmolenko followed suit from close range in the 90th minute.
On his 118th international appearance, there had been a moment of horror for Neuer three minutes earlier when he lost possession on the halfway line.
Neuer’s blushes were spared when Artem Dovbyk was adjudged to have been offside after Yarmolenko sent the Girona striker through on goal.
Ukraine play Poland on Friday and Moldova on June 11 before facing Romania (June 17), Slovakia (June 21) and Belgium (June 26). Germany also take on Hungary on June 19 and Switzerland four days later.
