Germany will decide on the eve of its round-of-16 match against Slovakia on Sunday whether defender Jerome Boateng can help it to another clean sheet en route to what it hopes is a fourth continental crown. Boateng returned to training on Saturday after overcoming a muscle injury and appeared fit.
Boateng has been crucial for the German defence, which is yet to concede a goal. He had renewed his World Cup-winning partnership in central defence with Mats Hummels, with both players only recently back from injury.
They will need all the defensive prowess they can muster if they are not to replicate the mistakes that led to a 3-1 loss to the Slovaks in their friendly in May.
A new pitch has been laid in Lille after heavy rain and frequent play had damaged it irreparably. Germany, which triumphed in 1972, 1980 and 1996, is prepared, ’keeper Manuel Neuer said.
“We have to keep a clean sheet,” Neuer told reporters on Friday. “We know that we can concede goals as well. But, so far, we have defended well and in knockout games we want to keep a clean sheet.”
Reining in Hamsik Slovakia’s Marek Hamsik and Vladimir Weiss will have their work cut out against the solid German backline, with full-backs Jonas Hector and Joshua Kimmich in fine form.
Hamsik has been in equally stellar form, drilling in one goal and setting up another in the win over Russia.
He had scored a similarly spectacular long-range effort against the Germans in the friendly victory last month, but it is unlikely the World champion will give him so much space again.
“You just have to look at a YouTube video of his goals,” said Neuer. “It will be important that our holding midfielders stop him early and he does not get a chance to shoot.”
Slovakia’s much bigger task, however, will be to somehow slow down its opponent’s quick passing game that, on a good day, can rip any defensive plan to shreds.
Despite having yet to find a perfect mix in attack, Germany has had more than double the efforts on goal than its opponent in the entire tournament.
With average possession of 65 per cent and passing accuracy at a staggering 91 per cent, Germany is expected to maintain the pressure throughout the game. “The huge euphoria is maybe not there yet (in Germany), but if we beat Slovakia and then play against a big opponent, then we can say we have arrived at the tournament,” Neuer said.
