Germany 0-0 Poland: World champions held in Paris

World champions Germany flattered to deceive as they were held 0-0 by Poland in the first goalless draw of Euro 2016.

The tournament favourites lacked a cutting edge in the Group C encounter as they failed to register a shot on target in the first half - the last time that happened to a German team at a European Championships was in 1988 against Italy.

Poland created the better chances and Ajax striker Arkadiusz Milik missed two glorious opportunities in the second half, which denied the Poles a famous victory against a team they've only beaten once in the last 21 games. 

The result opens up Group C with Germany and Poland on four points and Northern Ireland, who face Germany on Tuesday, just a point behind after their historic win over Ukraine.

Joachim Low's team, as against Ukraine, enjoyed significant spells of possession without threatening Poland goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski, who replaced the injured Wojciech Szczesny.

Chances were at a premium as Poland, with Grzegorz Krychowiak in full destructive mode in the middle of the park, were happy to contain German's slow passing tempo.

Poland grew in confidence after the break and should have been ahead 47 seconds after the restart but Milik, the scorer of Poland's only goal in their 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland, headed wide from six yards out with the goal gaping.

Low's decision to start without a recognised striker often left Germany with no players in the Poland box but makeshift striker Mario Gotze did wriggle free to test Fabianski on 46 minutes, which was the first shot on target of the game. 

Milik was having a game to forget for Poland as he squandered another great chance on 68 minutes, failing to strike the ball cleanly from 12 yards out when in acres of space.

Mesut Ozil tested Fabianski with a 69th-minute curling effort which he palmed to safety.

Low sacrificed Julian Draxler and Gotze for the more direct options provided by Mario Gomez and Andre Schurrle, but it had little effect on the game as Germany failed to score for first time in 15 games in major finals.

Team line-ups

Germany team: Neuer, Hector, Höwedes, Hummels, Khedira, Özil, Draxler, Müller, Boateng, Kroos, Götze

Used subs: Schürrle, Gomez

Poland team: Fabianski, Jedrzejczyk, Pazdan, Glik, Piszczek, Grosicki, Maczynski, Krychowiak, Blaszczykowski, Milik, Lewandowski

Used subs: Kapustka, Jodlowiec, Peszko

Man of the Match: Grzegorz Krychowiak