Ruthless Germans

Germany stars Manuel Neuer and Toni Kroos warned the world champions will only improve after seeing off Ukraine 2-0 in Lille to make the perfect start to their Euro 2016 campaign.

Kroos was named man of the match and goalkeeper Neuer made several key saves as Ukraine threatened to expose a makeshift German defence weakened by injuries to Mats Hummels and Antonio Ruediger before half-time.

However, Shkodran Mustafi's early header and a first international goal in five years by Bastian Schweinsteiger, deep into stoppage time, gave Joachim Loew's men a perfect start in their bid to match their success in Brazil two years ago.

"We played well and kept up our good standards in defence," said Bayern Munich's Neuer. "We haven't shown yet everything that we have to show, we will keep improving."

Kroos's brilliant cross set up the opener, but he admitted Ukraine were unlucky not to have at least levelled before the break as Neuer's heroics and a spectacular goalline clearance from Jerome Boateng kept them at bay.

"It is always good for the confidence to win 2-0 and keep and clean sheet," said Kroos, who shone fresh from winning the Champions League with Real Madrid.

"The last 15 minutes before half-time we didn't concentrate well, so we couldn't complain if we had conceded.

"In the second half we were much stronger, we dominated the game and didn't concede any chances.

"We've learned a lot, we're not at the level we want to achieve during this tournament yet, but it is a good start."

It was a special night for Schweinsteiger, who had only played 23 minutes since tearing a knee ligament in March, but battled back to fitness just in time to make the squad.

And he made a huge impact in just three minutes on the field as he sprinted forward to slam home Mesut Ozil's low cross in the 93rd minute.