Germany 3 Slovakia 0
The 2016 model isn’t a Mercedes yet but it’s starting to roll down the autobahn.
The Germans have not yet conceded a goal in Euro 2016.
Are they heading for their 4th European Championship?
In 8 minutes, Tony Kroos took a corner that was cleared and huge centreback Jerome Boateng volleyed the first goal from outside the penalty area, Ozil had a penalty saved after Skrtel pushed Gomez very stupidly.
Then, after 43, Draxler waltzed to the bye-line and cut back a perfect cross for Gomez at the near post. After watching six replays, I still thought the defender toed the ball in for 2-0.
At half time ITV’s Lee Dixon, appalled by the Slovaks, said, “It’s schoolboy defending”
But the patriotic Lothar Matthaus claimed,”This is a perfect half from the German team.”
Draxler, a calm player who is strong and faster than he looks, has an unusual style. He’s not like any of the other German players – and he’s always reminded me, just a little bit, of Zizou.
Zinedine Zidane was burned out before Euro 96 kicked off, after a brutal season with Bordeaux, carrying the team.
A big man with skill is the most exciting thing in footballl and someone said that Zidane had the body of a bear and the mind of a fox. It was very hard to stop him, hard to get near the ball when he had it, or to stop him doing what he wanted to do.
When Zidane headed two goals against Brazil he became the king of France.
Julien Draxler is 24 and six foot two and played over 100 games for Schalke before he was 20, making his debut at 16.
Draxler then replaced Kevin De Bruyne at Wolfsburg when the Belgian was sold to Manchester City in 2015.
When the Germans got a corner on the right in 63, Mats Hummels won the knockdown at the far post and Draxler, reaching for a high volley, smashed the ball into the postage stamp from five yards.
Slovakia, who held England to a 0-0 draw, had been Draxed.
Lukas Podolski replaced Draxler in 71 to win his 129th cap, then Schweinsteiger came on for Khedira.
This R16 game was a stroll for the Germans, an enjoyable work-out.