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Ukraine assistant manager Andriy Shevchenko said there could have been a different outcome to their opening Euro 2016 game against world champions Germany if they had taken one of their first-half chances. Goals from Shkodran Mustafi and Bastian Schweinsteiger condemned Ukraine to a 2-0 defeat but German keeper Manuel Neuer made world-class saves from Yevhen Konoplyanka and Yevhen Khacheridi in the first half. Germany centre-back Jerome Boateng also made a brilliant goal-line clearance as Ukraine pressed for an equaliser after Mustafi's early header. Shevchenko, 39, was delighted with what he saw in the first half but rued the fact that Ukraine could not keep it up after the interval. "I think the first half, it could be very different if we score," the former AC Milan and Chelsea striker told ESPN FC. "But Germany had great possession. "We are happy about the first half. The team played very well. The intensity of the game was high, the pressure was good. "We created some good counter attacks and also the possession in the last period of the first half was very good." Ukraine now face Northern Ireland and Poland and Shevchenko is still hopeful they can qualify from Group C. "I think both games are very difficult for us," he said. "Both we need to win -- it doesn't matter which one. Probably to qualify we need to win both."
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