Euro 2024 hosts Germany dominate but play out goalless draw against Ukraine

NUREMBERG, Germany :Euro 2024 hosts Germany missed scores of chances and dominated for much of the game against Ukraine on Monday but did not get past a 0-0 in their penultimate warm-up game before the tournament start in 11 days.

The Germans, desperate for a good Euro on home soil after a decade without any international success, hit the woodwork and came close on several occasions in a strong performance despite plenty of substitutions.

Coach Julian Nagelsmann is due to announce his final squad this week, cutting one player from his 27-man preliminary selection.

"It is a shame we did not score," said Germany's Thomas Mueller. "Especially in the second half we kept up the pressure and despite the many substitutions we did not lose our flow.

"You need that bit of luck as well. We deserved a goal today. We tried to do our best but sometimes there are such days. Not winning is not great."

Germany, without Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund players in the lineup following Saturday's Champions League final, but with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the stands, started at a fast pace and with high pressing.

Ilkay Gundogan should have put them in the lead in the 16th minute when Pascal Gross sent a cross to the far post for a header but the unmarked Germany captain failed to connect properly.

The Ukrainians, who qualified for the Euros following a playoff win over Iceland, left possession to their opponents and instead tried to counter-attack using Mykhailo Mudryk's speed.

The Germans, who play their final warm-up game against Greece in four days, came close again early in the second half but Kai Havertz's glancing header sailed wide in the 53rd.

Substitute Maximilian Beier, making his national team debut, came even closer with his first