<p> Missing inspirational World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm, Germany begin Euro 2016 against Ukraine on Sunday with major doubts over whether they can reach the heights of Brazil two years ago.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The versatile Lahm retired from international football after the World Cup leaving a gap that coach Joachim Loew has found difficult to fill, whilst a series of injuries have further disrupted Germany's preparation.<br /><br />Moreover, erratic form in qualifying and in the build-up to the Euros has eroded confidence in the world champions.<br /><br />Germany suffered away defeats to both Ireland and Poland in qualifying and threw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to England in March.<br /><br />An inexperienced side including several debutants lost to Slovakia last month before a full-strength side struggled to see off Hungary last Saturday.<br /><br />"We saw that we've needed to turn one or two screws to make improvements," Loew said on Friday.<br /><br />"In a few situations (in the warm-up games) we weren't particularly dynamic or fresh."<br />Indeed, Loew has picked the youngest squad present in France with Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus and Roma defender Antonio Ruediger missing out through injury.<br /><br />Ruediger's absence may mean Bayern Munich's latest recruit from rivals Dortmund, Mats Hummels, may be rushed back to face Ukraine despite not featuring since tearing a calf muscle in his last game for his old club in the German Cup final on May 21.<br /><br />Captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is set to only start on the bench in Lille on Sunday, having played just 23 minutes of football since the end of March after tearing a knee ligament.<br /><br />The Manchester United star came off the bench at the end of Germany's warm-up friendly win over Hungary last Saturday.<br /><br />However, German assistant boss Thomas Schneider insisted Schweinsteiger is fit and highlighted the importance of his leadership to such a young squad.<br /><br />"In any case, Basti is fit," added Schneider.<br />"As a bloke, he is extremely important for us and is on a very good path."<br />If Hummels is not fit to start, Valencia's Shkodran Mustafi or the experienced Benedikt Howedes will partner Jerome Boateng in central defence.<br /><br />Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich is set to complete a meteoric rise this season in Lahm's old position at right-back with Jonas Hector at left-back.<br /><br />Up front, the scorer of the winning goal in the World Cup final two years ago, Mario Goetze, looks set to continue despite a lack of form and fitness restricting him to just seven league starts for Bayern all season.<br /><br />"Goetze has rediscovered his playing rhythm even though he hasn't played so much recently for his club," added Loew.<br /><br />"He can play at the front of or just behind the forward line, which is a great advantage for him."<br /><br />Ukraine could expose Germany's inexperience at the back with their major threat coming from talented wingers Yevhen Konoplyanka of Sevilla and Dynamo Kiev's Andriy Yarmolenko.<br /><br />However, their preparations have been affected by a public bust-up between Yarmolenko and team-mate Taras Stepanenko.<br /><br />Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Stepanenko was blatantly kicked by Yarmolenko for a provocative goal celebration in front of the Dynamo fans in a clash between the two giants of Ukranian club football last month.<br /><br />Yarmolenko was suspended for three matches and fined $2,000 over the incident, provoking Stepanenko to say their "friendship is over."<br /><br />"The incident was intentional and he could have broken my knee," Stepanenko said.<br />"On the field, we are a team and I give it my all. But off the field, I'm not required to associate and have friendly relations with a given person," he added.<br /><br /></p>
<p> Missing inspirational World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm, Germany begin Euro 2016 against Ukraine on Sunday with major doubts over whether they can reach the heights of Brazil two years ago.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The versatile Lahm retired from international football after the World Cup leaving a gap that coach Joachim Loew has found difficult to fill, whilst a series of injuries have further disrupted Germany's preparation.<br /><br />Moreover, erratic form in qualifying and in the build-up to the Euros has eroded confidence in the world champions.<br /><br />Germany suffered away defeats to both Ireland and Poland in qualifying and threw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to England in March.<br /><br />An inexperienced side including several debutants lost to Slovakia last month before a full-strength side struggled to see off Hungary last Saturday.<br /><br />"We saw that we've needed to turn one or two screws to make improvements," Loew said on Friday.<br /><br />"In a few situations (in the warm-up games) we weren't particularly dynamic or fresh."<br />Indeed, Loew has picked the youngest squad present in France with Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus and Roma defender Antonio Ruediger missing out through injury.<br /><br />Ruediger's absence may mean Bayern Munich's latest recruit from rivals Dortmund, Mats Hummels, may be rushed back to face Ukraine despite not featuring since tearing a calf muscle in his last game for his old club in the German Cup final on May 21.<br /><br />Captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is set to only start on the bench in Lille on Sunday, having played just 23 minutes of football since the end of March after tearing a knee ligament.<br /><br />The Manchester United star came off the bench at the end of Germany's warm-up friendly win over Hungary last Saturday.<br /><br />However, German assistant boss Thomas Schneider insisted Schweinsteiger is fit and highlighted the importance of his leadership to such a young squad.<br /><br />"In any case, Basti is fit," added Schneider.<br />"As a bloke, he is extremely important for us and is on a very good path."<br />If Hummels is not fit to start, Valencia's Shkodran Mustafi or the experienced Benedikt Howedes will partner Jerome Boateng in central defence.<br /><br />Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich is set to complete a meteoric rise this season in Lahm's old position at right-back with Jonas Hector at left-back.<br /><br />Up front, the scorer of the winning goal in the World Cup final two years ago, Mario Goetze, looks set to continue despite a lack of form and fitness restricting him to just seven league starts for Bayern all season.<br /><br />"Goetze has rediscovered his playing rhythm even though he hasn't played so much recently for his club," added Loew.<br /><br />"He can play at the front of or just behind the forward line, which is a great advantage for him."<br /><br />Ukraine could expose Germany's inexperience at the back with their major threat coming from talented wingers Yevhen Konoplyanka of Sevilla and Dynamo Kiev's Andriy Yarmolenko.<br /><br />However, their preparations have been affected by a public bust-up between Yarmolenko and team-mate Taras Stepanenko.<br /><br />Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Stepanenko was blatantly kicked by Yarmolenko for a provocative goal celebration in front of the Dynamo fans in a clash between the two giants of Ukranian club football last month.<br /><br />Yarmolenko was suspended for three matches and fined $2,000 over the incident, provoking Stepanenko to say their "friendship is over."<br /><br />"The incident was intentional and he could have broken my knee," Stepanenko said.<br />"On the field, we are a team and I give it my all. But off the field, I'm not required to associate and have friendly relations with a given person," he added.<br /><br /></p>