Good evening football fans and welcome to the third game of the day as world champions Germany get their Euro 2016 campaign underway against Ukraine in Lille.

Germany haven’t tasted European success since 1996 but Joachim Löw come into the tournament with high expectations (naturally) and will fancy their chances this summer.

Firstly, they must get up and running and Ukraine provide their first opposition in Group C. Kick-off is at 8pm.

So lets get straight to the line-ups.

Mats Hummels misses out through injury (calf) but otherwise Germany are at full strength.

Ukraine: Andriy Pyatov; Artem Fedetskiy, Yevhen Khacheridi, Yaroslav Rakitskiy, Vyacheslav Shevchuk (capt); Taras Stepanenko, Serhiy Sydorchuk, Victor Kovalenko; Andriy Yarmolenko, Roman Zozulya, Yevhen Konoplyanka.

The atmosphere is building at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

John Walton John Walton

John Walton John Walton

Can Ukraine upset the odds this evening? As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail ryan@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

You may need to refresh the page for YouTube videos and other elements to display correctly.

Disappointing news coming from Lille before the game.

There were further scenes of violence among groups of supporters ahead of tonight’s game. Rival fans clashed in the centre of Lille, close to the Gare Flandres, where a number of supporters have been arriving in recent days.

Germany and Ukraine fans were seen fighting, throwing chairs and bottles near La Grande Place, an area of bars and restaurants which had earlier seen dozens of supporters – including some from Wales and England, whose teams meet in nearby Lens on Thursday - mixing in a peaceable atmosphere.

A group of German fans, understood to be part of a far-right contingent, threw beer cans at media representatives as they attempted to film close to the station. Some of the bars were later closed to allow a clean-up of the area.

The teams are in the tunnel and we’re just about ready for the third and final game of the day. Earlier, there were wins for Croatia and Poland.

Electric, and peaceful, atmosphere inside the ground as we countdown to kick-off. And now the national anthems…

After an opening weekend marred by violent clashes off the pitch, it’s over to the world champions and lets hope the football can start generating the headlines.

If Germany click into gear here and flex their muscles, we could be in for an entertaining evening. That’s not to write Ukraine off, who have plenty of star quality in their ranks including Andriy Yarmolenko.

It’s the first meeting in tournament football between these two…

Kick-off! And we’re underway on a warm evening in Lille.

Germany looking to start strongly with Hoewedes making progress down the right. He’s unable to get his cross away and Ukraine win the goal kick.

It has been raining most of the day so the pitch is slick and should suit Germany’s fast passing game. They’re enjoying all the early possession.

Chance! Danger signs already for Ukraine as Gotze drives at the defence and after the initial shot is blocked, it falls for Draxler inside the area but his effort is just off target.

Save! Neuer forced into action this time as Konoplyanka comes in off his wing to meet the ball across perfectly. His sweet strike is arrowing towards the corner but the German ‘keeper gets a strong hand to it.

A bright start to this game and Ukraine will take confidence from the way they’ve found space inside the German half.

The game has just settled down now and Germany are seeing most of the ball. Ukraine are happy to let them have the ball, eventually forcing Boateng to search for the long ball, which he over-hits.

Germany manager Jogi Low watches on.

Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

Chance! Germany knocking on the door. Draxler’s cross to the back post is headed back across for Hector, but he slips and shins his effort and the chance is gone.

Germany beginning to find a lot more room in the final third. Draxler, Mueller and Goetze already linking up well and causing the Ukraine defence untold problems. Still goalless after 13 minutes.

Ukraine having to work very hard when they haven’t got the ball as German begin to go through the gears. Mykhaylo Fomenko’s side have held firm thus far and are posing a threat going forward.

GOAL! Germany 1-0 Ukraine (Mustafi)

That didn’t take long. Kroos’ set-piece delivery is perfect and Mustafi gets a run on his man to power home from close range for his first international goal.

That’s a hammer blow for Ukraine, who have spent most of the opening 20 minutes without the ball. For all Germany’s quality from open play, it’s a set-piece which gets the world champions up and running. No more than they deserve.

Germany beginning to put the Ukrainian defence under all sorts of pressure. They’re hanging on a bit at the moment, as Kroos swings across another corner.

Mustafi broke the deadlock, heading home Kroos’ free-kick.

Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

Save! Neuer with another fine stop, this time to deny Khacheridi. The corner comes in and the goalkeeper actually finds himself underneath the delivery but recovers brilliantly to tip over.

Germany so dangerous but at 1-0 they’re not in complete control, as that last passage of play demonstrated.

Save! What a ball from Kroos! It should have been two for Germany as Kroos sets Khedira through on goal, but he’s thwarted by the goalkeeper.

It’s end-to-end stuff now and Ukraine are giving as good as they’re getting. Entertaining 30 minutes of football.

Germany look in the mood already and they’re so dangerous going forward, committing numbers to attack and breaking with pace and precision. They look vulnerable defensively, however, and Neuer has come to the rescue twice.

This first half has been an absolute joy to watch. Germany just beginning to flex their muscles and when the world champions get going, there are few teams better to watch.

Off the line! Ukraine denied by Boateng’s last-ditch intervention. Germany opened up again but they escape as Boateng got back to scramble it off the line with Neuer beaten.

Disallowed! Yarmolenko taps it home but the flag is up and Ukraine are really asking questions of this German defence now.

Plenty of chances at both ends. Mueller this time finds himself in acres of space but his caught in two minds and eventually heads well wide.

Mustafi’s goal remains the difference.

Michel Spingler Michel Spingler

Ukraine growing in confidence and their corner count is growing. They’ve caused a real threat from dead ball situations, but the delivery isn’t great on this occasion.

Ukraine really pressing for an equaliser as we approach half-time. They won’t want that whistle to come with Germany suddenly on the back foot.

Boateng again forced to come across and cut the ball out. Ukraine have another corner but Neuer commands his area and gathers. It has been an admirable response from Ukraine here after conceding relatively early.

Half-time! Germany 1-0 Ukraine

Mustafi’s header separates the sides and has given the world champions the half-time advantage. But they certainly haven’t had it all their own way with Ukraine forcing Neuer into a number of smart stops.

That was a thoroughly entertaining half of football, arguably the best of the tournament so far. Germany started purposefully and really looked in the mood but huge credit to Ukraine for responding and they’re very unlucky not to be level.

Boateng clears off the line. Darko Vojinovic Darko Vojinovic

Back underway in Lille! Let’s hope the second period is as good as the first.

Germany have come out of the blocks quickly as they look for a second goal to end this Ukraine fightback.

Save! Germany have started strongly again and Boateng’s ball finds Draxler. His first touch is perfect and his dipping effort requires Pyatov to stretch and parry it to safety.

Close! The complexion of this game has changed again as Germany have assumed control of proceedings again. Ukraine back off and they give Kroos time and space.

The midfielder doesn’t need a second invitation to let fly and his stinging effort sails just over from all of 30 yards.

Germany are far from convincing defensively. Their fullbacks continue to bomb forward, leaving themselves susceptible to the counter-attack.

Save! Germany being restricted to long-range efforts for now and it’s Khedira who unleashes a fierce drive but Pyatov dives to his left to parry away.

Neuer has been called upon on more than one occasion, with Ukraine still searching for an equaliser.

Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

Ukraine making their first change with Zozulya making way for the more experienced Seleznyov. 25 minutes remaining in Lille.

Yellow card for Konoplyanka, the first of the game, as he cynically stops Gotze. In the next passage of play, Draxler very nearly gets on the end of Hoewedes’ cross but he just can’t keep it down.

Germany beginning to turn the screw and Ukraine are stretched. Ozil this time nearly finds a way through before a corner causes the goalkeeper some trouble.

Second change for Ukraine and they need to find a spark and quickly. Zinchenko on for Kovalenko.

It looks like the Ukrainians have run out of steam. Gotze is given so much time and space and in the end his effort his tame enough to allow Pyatov to comfortably deal with it.

Save! This time the goalkeeper is required to stretch and tip it around the post as Mueller pulls the trigger from outside the box. It was a save you would expect Pyatov would make but he has had a fine game.

How crucial will this be after 90 minutes? Boateng’s last-ditch clearance.

Low uses his bench as he introduces Schurrle for Draxler.

Close! He’s only on the pitch a couple of minutes but Andre Schurrle is straight into the action as he comes close to sealing the win for his side, but his curling effort goes the wrong side of the post.

Schurrle very nearly in again but the ‘keeper is off his line quickly to avert the danger. Germany finishing the stronger but as we saw last night, 1-0 is a very dangerous scoreline.

Ukraine’s best chance might be from set-pieces, which they’ve been dangerous from all evening. They have to get hold of the ball first, and it just seems they’ve run out of steam after throwing everything at Germany in the first half.

Save! Germany can’t find the second! Ozil is through again but he can’t beat the goalkeeper and Ukraine are in at the other end….

Let off for Germany as confusion between Mustafi and Neuer forces Boateng to get back and clear with the goal unguarded. The world champions are suddenly very shaky at the back as Ukraine push for a leveller.

Goetze is making way for the final few moments as the returning Bastian Schweinsteiger receives a huge ovation from the German fans inside the ground.

Yarmolenko gathers the ball on the right, and wins the corner. It’s cleared initially by German and the world champions find themselves camped inside their own area.

GOAL! Germany 2-0 Ukraine (Schweinsteiger)

Game, set and match. Germany break in numbers and Ozil delivers a brilliant ball for Schweinsteiger to volley home superbly at the back post.

Full-time! Germany 2-0 Ukraine 

So the world champions are up and running in Group C but they have work to do. Thanks for joining us, it has been another entertaining day with wins for Croatia, Poland and now Germany.

Until tomorrow, when Ireland get their campaign underway in Paris, it’s goodbye!