The game will also be on talkSPORT, BBC Radio 5 Live and on the BBC Sport website and App.

The first meeting between the sides at a major tournament. The Germans are unbeaten in their 5 previous encounters against their opponents.

This is the 12th European Championship for Germany, in the previous 11 they have never lost their opening game.

Is this the first step for the World Champions to another major trophy?

the germans stats in general for tournament football is just insane... they're just a machine.

... i can't see them not making the last 4 at least again this time round either.

im looking forward to this game

Definitely. I can't see Germany not making the semifinals regardless of how they play. I think it's been calculated that Germany and France are most likely to meet in the semis (bar any unforeseen disasters) so that's when we will really see what both teams are made of.

They've got to the final of the World Cup 8 times with 4 wins.

They've got to the final of the European Championship 6 times with 3 wins.

13 times they've reached the last 4 of the World Cup.

8 times they've reached the last 4 of the Euros.

Not bad is it?

germany will put 5 past NI when they play them

Podolski still in the german squad!

The line-ups:

Germany.
Neuer, Mustafi, Hector, Howedes, Khedira, Ozil, Draxler, Muller, Boateng, Kroos, Gotze.

Ukraine.
Pyatov, Fedetskiy, Khacheridi, Rakitskiy, Shevchuk, Sydorchuk, Stepanenko, Yarmolenko, Kovalenko, Konoplyanka, Zozulya.

This tournament could do with a surprise, so here's hoping Ukraine can provide one against a German side who have not been overwhelmingly impressive since they won the world cup.

jesus... that record is just staggering.

Hopefully a struggling Germany bring on Gomez who wins the game, making himself undroppable for the rest of the tournament and making me a few squid.

I have no idea of Germanys formation??
Looks like a 3-1-4-1-1
Ozil behind Muller up front? Khedira holding?

"I bet they won't concede a goal in injury time"

What an arse.

Must admit I'm not overly concerned with Germany's performance in this match simply because, as the above stats so clearly illustrate, you know what you're going to get with them in tournament football.

I'm more interested in what we'll see from Ukraine tonight instead; are they as poor as everyone seems to think they are and how will their performance match up to the one we saw earlier from their next opponents Northern Ireland?

Jens Lehmann doesn't come across as a madman off the pitch

who interviewed him?

Whos everyone supporting?

Pundits finding it hard work talking up Ukraine's chances; best they can come up with is they only conceded five goals in qualifying. They don't mention they lost 3/4 qualifying games against Spain and Slovakia (with a 0-0 draw making up the 4th match) and qualified fro these finals via the play-offs. Hard to see them pulling off even a draw against this German side, who look frighteningly good to me on paper.


I will support whichever team plays the most attractive football.

Ukraine have some quality - could be a shock on here

As a Northern Ireland fan I'm hoping for Germany to absolutely batter them and shatter their moral before Thursday

Think Ukraine will be similar to Romania; technically adept, well drilled, quick on the counter, but will fluff most chances they get

Expect German to disset the defence frequently and have enough individuality and team play to not struggle like the French

Ozil is so cool. Too cool to sing :P

Sounds fair enough to me

Expecting big things from this game, tournament's been a bit of a damp squib for me so far.

Hmm, Martin Atkinson's refereeing.