| Lars Bender scored the winner 10 minutes from time as Germany took their place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 as winners of Group B.
The 23-year-old Bayer Leverkusen player poked home to end Denmark's dream of repeating their heroics of 1992.
Germany had taken a 19th-minute lead through Lukas Podolski, only for Michael Krohn-Dehli to head in six minutes later and give Denmark hope.
Germany, who qualify with a 100% record, play Greece in the last eight
For much of this game, this was a dominant display by Germany, inspired by Sami Khedira's midfield generalship, Thomas Mueller's prodigious work on the wings and a workrate and ambition that glowed throughout the team.
The long journeys from Germany's team base in Gdansk, Poland to Ukraine have not gone down well with the squad but having topped the group with victory in Lviv, they have earned a quarter-final in the city where they are based.
The last time Denmark and Germany met in a competitive fixture had been memorable for very different reasons. The final of the 1992 European Championship saw the Danes, late replacements for the banned Yugoslavia, beat the Germans in the final to complete one of the most surprising tournament victories in history.
Denmark have struggled to escape the shadow of that victory ever since but with the sublime young talents such as Christian Eriksen in the side there was a sense of optimism that the seemingly impossible might just be possible all over again.
Germany were in no mood for a repeat, however. For long periods of this match Joachim Loew's side were untouchable in possession with Mueller and Bastian Schweinsteiger dictating from midfield.
Whether breaking past an opponent from wide on the right flank, or erupting with dramatic suddenness through the middle of a defence, Mueller's early runs were an exhilarating blend of grace and devastation.
The Bayern Munich midfielder was a constant danger, but twice in the early moments he spurned good chances, failing to make clean contact when the ball broke to him six yards from goal and shooting narrowly over with the goal at his mercy.
It was no surprise when Mueller created the opening goal for Germany, exchanging passes with Mesut Ozil, before cutting the ball back across the penalty area from the right where Podolski thumped it ruthlessly beyond Denmark goalkeeper Stephan Andersen.
Denmark were bystanders for much of the opening period, unable to prevent or disrupt the German passing carousel and relying on intermittant long-range attacks. But what became clear quite quickly was their dominance at set-pieces.
Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner had won an early header from a corner and when he rose again to meet a 23rd-minute corner, Germany were found wanting. The Dane rose majestically to head the back across goal, where Krohn-Dehli headed beyond Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
But while Denmark visibly grew in confidence after the goal, Germany continued to dominate. Mario Gomez was always on hand to provide the German attack with a focal point and might have done better on two occasions before half-time when the ball broke kindly to him.
Khedira was also guilty of wastefulness, exchanging passes with Gomez only to poke the ball wide with the outside of his right foot when the ball broke to him.
Denmark were, however, unbowed. Starved of possession and chasing shadows, the clenched fist of their coach Morten Olsen at half-time said it all.
It had been a geature of unexpected defiane in the face of German domination but for his team the message was clear.
Denmark looked a different side early in the second half and should have snatched an unlikely lead when Bendtner collected Simon Poulsen's clever pass in the penalty box before laying the ball off to Jakob Poulsen, who skimmed the outside of the post with his low shot.
The fluency Germany had found for long periods was being disrupted by a Denmark side that tackled, battled and denied space, their uncomplicated, direct approach putting their more celebrated opponents under serious duress.
The introduction of Bayern Leverkusen striker Andre Schuerrle appeared to help Germany regain their dynamism. The 21-year-old almost made an immediate impact, gathering Khedira's delightfully weighted pass before directing a fierce, low shot across goal which Andersen did well to push to safety.
Bendter was unfortunate moments later when he poked narrowly over after a delighful ball by Eriksen but Germany looked the more likely.
With Denmark tiring, Bender broke forward, taking advantage of Simon Poulsen's slip and rolled the ball beyond Andersen to decide the outcome of Group B.
Agger headed over as Denmark continued to push but the dream was over.
|
