Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the game between Germany and Ukraine at Euro 2016.

After Poland's 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland, it is now the turn of Germany and Ukraine who will be keen to make their own mark in Group C. Germany are overwhelming favourites to prevail in Lille but Ukraine have only suffered defeat to Spain in their last 18 matches. This contest could be a lot closer than you think.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the team news that is emerging from both changing rooms.

GERMANY XI: Neuer, Howedes, Boateng, Mustafi, Hector, Khedira, Muller, Ozil, Draxler, Gotze

UKRAINE XI: Pyatov, Fedetskiy, Khacheridi, Rakitskiy, Shevchuk, Sydorchuk, Stepanenko, Yarmolenko, Kovalenko, Konoplyanka, Zozulya

First of all, let's take a look at the Germany side. There had been suggestions that Emre Can could line up at right-back given Joachim Low's injury problems but he has chosen to go with Benedikt Howedes instead. Another minor surprise comes in attack with Mario Gotze being given the nod over Mario Gomez.

As for Ukraine, there are no real surprises in Mykhaylo Fomenko's lineup but he has chosen to include talented youngster Viktor Kovalenko in his attacking-midfield three. The 20-year-old will be making just his fourth appearance for his country.

The trouble between England and Russia supporters has been well documented but there have also been reports today of fighting between German and Ukrainian fans. The images on social media don't appear to be as extreme or frequent as the diabolical scenes of yesterday but they are bad enough. Let's hope tensions don't boil over during the game.

HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's game will represent just the sixth time that the two teams have faced each other on the international stage and Germany have an impressive record that they will want to keep intact. They are unbeaten in the five previous matches but the nations have only played each other once since 2001 with that game ending in a 3-3 draw in 2011. Let's hope for more of the same this evening!

After winning the World Cup in Brazil, expectations of the German national team increased ten-fold and it may be a reason why they have lacked consistency over the past two years. They earned qualification from their group by a point but since their triumph two years ago, they have suffered seven defeats in 19 outings - hardly the form of world champions. Joachim Low will be keen to brush off criticism of his team but they must improve over the course of the next few weeks if they are to secure the international double. They are justifiably the favourites for the competition but they cannot afford to under-perform or they will not make the latter stages.

It's difficult to make a clear assessment of Ukraine given that they haven't played many games against Europe's elite over the last couple of years but they are undefeated in six games and have kept three clean sheets during that period. They will probably have to find an extra gear to secure a result against the likes of Germany but seven goals in their last two games suggests that they shouldn't be low on confidence in the final third.

There's lot to catch up on from over the weekend in our Euro 2016 section so why not head there now before kickoff? Just make sure you are back very soon because we are expecting goals in this contest, as you will see from our prediction...

PREDICTION! Making such a bold prediction can only be described as speculative but we will explain our reasoning. Both teams are blessed with attacking options but it's a different story in defence and that could lead to a free-for-all in the final third. We are backing Germany to win 4-2 but don't be surprise if Ukraine run them closer.

It's almost show time in Lille. The two teams are making their way out to a rousing reception. I really have high expectations for this match - you can probably tell!

English referee Martin Atkinson is the man in the middle this evening.

Germany get us underway.

It's been a fast start from both teams but no chances as of yet. The pitch looks a little heavy but it isn't discouraging either side.

CHANCES! As I posted that, Germany stormed forward and a fortunate ricochet resulted in Draxler being able to get a volley away, only to see if go wide of the post. Up the other end, Ukraine's Konoplyanka almost found the top corner before Neuer flung himself to his left to tip the ball away.

It's interesting to see Germany try to deliver a succession of crosses into the box when they haven't selected Gomez. He would have been suited to this game. Ukraine are coping well so far.

We haven't seen much of Thomas Muller so far. He's currently occupying a position on the right flank, rather than a more central role. He won't finish top scorer in the tournament - as predicted by the bookmakers - over there.

CHANCE! He has just had an impact, however. A cross from Ozil was headed by Muller into the path of Hector, but the defender slipped as he made contact with the volley and the ball went skywards. Good chance, that.

Ukraine haven't offered much of a threat since that Konoplyanka strike. They are being kept occupied by the movement of the German midfield and forward line but they cannot afford to sit too deep. They momentarily rocked their opponents when Konoplyanka almost found the top corner.

And that is why you cannot afford to drop too deep. Ukraine concede a free kick on the right flank, giving Kroos the chance to cross towards the back post for Mustafi to send a powerful header past Pyatov from 10 yards.

There's a threat of this becoming very one-sided. Ukraine continue to retreat and focus their attention on defending rather than trying to create something through their creative three. Kroos is the next to get a shot away for Germany but it is deflected wide for a corner.

CHANCE! Much better from Ukraine. Konoplyanka's corner is superb and finds the head of Khacheridi, but Neuer is well placed to get a hand to the ball to tip it over the crossbar. That's two stunning interventions from the German stopper.

CHANCE! Kroos has been exceptional so far and his sublime 40-yard pass finds the boot of Khedira, who had broke behind the Ukrainian defence. He expertly controlled the ball to get himself into a shooting position but his left-foot volley is straight at Pyatov. It should be 2-0.

We are yet to see anything of Yarmolenko and Kovalenko. They have bene too busy trying to try the runs of Khedira and Kroos but it's proving almost impossible.

CHANCE! We have now! Some brilliant play from Yarmolenko results in Konoplyanka being found at the back post and although his shot is going well wide, it hits Boateng and goes towards goal. However, the defender managed to get back and hook the ball clear off the line. It's a phenomenal intervention.

Ukraine have the ball in the back of the net but Yarmolenko is marginally offside from a cross. This game is starting to live up to expectations now.

Ukraine are playing some attractive stuff now. They were very much second best during the opening 25 minutes bu they are the better team now. Joachim Low has work to do at half time.

There will be one minute of added-on time and Germany will be pleased to see the break. I didn't think I'd be writing that.

The half-time whistle goes in Lille and Germany remain ahead of Ukraine thanks to Mustafi's 19th-minute header. That doesn't tell the whole story though with Ukraine more than playing their part in an entertaining tussle. More of the same in the second half please!

Ukraine get the game restarted. Neither side have made a change so hopefully we can continue where we left off in the first half.

It's been an excellent start to the second half from Germany. Moments after an Ozil shot was blocked, Draxler tried his luck from a similar position only to see Pyatov pull off a faily comfortable save to his left.

SHOT! When you are playing with the confidence of Kroos, anything is possible and he must feel that too. The Real Madrid man just let fly from all of 35 yards with his shot just swerving an inch or two over the crossbar. Pyatov would have probably got a hand to it had it been on target, however.

Ukraine are yet to breach the final third since the restart although that's more to do with Germany coming out of the traps rather than Ukraine retreating back into their shell. It will be a worry though if they cannot change the pattern of play.

SAVE! Rakitskyi is known for having a very good left foot but he had little chance of beating Neuer from 30 yards. That said, the German stopper was forced to get down to his left to turn away his low strike.

You'd have the expect the first change to come sooner rather than later and that applies for both sides. While Ukraine need an extra spark, it would come as no surprise if Gotze makes way for Gomez.

SHOT! Khedira has breezed his way through this game and has the belief in himself to try to score from 30 yards, and he isn't too far away. Pyatov makes the save but for a moment, he must have been thinking the shot was going to beat him.

SUBSTITUTION! Ukraine make the first change with Yevhen Seleznyov taking the place of Zozulya, who has barely touched the ball.

CHANCE! Draxler has been one of Germany's best performers this evening but he should do better with this header. He was found at the back post by Howedes but despite getting in front of the defender, he powered his attempt over the crossbar.

We are into the final 20 minutes and while we won't get the 4-2 scoreline I predicted, I think we will still see another goal. Germany look favourites to score it if a goal does materialise but don't write Ukraine out of this.

SUBSTITUTION! Kovalenko has struggled in this game and he has been taken off for Oleksandr Zinchenko.

SHOT! Germany really want the second goal that would put the game out of Ukraine's reach and they almost get it through Muller, who has been disappointing by his own high standards. Pyatov was on hand to make the stop down to his left after the attacker's 25-yard strike.

SUBSTITUTION! Low finally makes his first change and he introduces Andre Schurrle for Draxler. Still no sign of Gomez.

Schurrle is quickly into the action and tries a shot on the turn from distance but it's scuffed and not of the quality required to beat Pyatov. Less than 10 minutes to go in Lille. I'm not sure that Ukraine have got much left in the tank.

Ukraine should be chasing everything down at this point but Germany are being allowed to spray the ball about at a comfortable pace. They haven't got the options off the bench to influence this match.

CHANCE! For the umpteenth time, Kroos plays a tremendous ball to a teammate and it finds Ozil who has broken clear of the defence. He does everything right apart from the shot, which is too close to Pyatov.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

The full-time whistle goes in Lille shortly after Bastian Schweinsteiger sealed the win for his side by volleying home at the back post from an exquisite cross from Ozil. Germany deserved to win comfortably and that's what they eventually did.

That late goal takes Germany above Poland in Group C before their clash in the middle of the week. That should be a quality game! That will be from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you again tomorrow! Goodbye for now.