Germany bow out with victory against Russia

Germany won the battle of Group B's eliminated sides as they finished their UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals with victory against Russia.

Alan Dzagoev fired Russia in front in the 22nd minute, but the double blow of Patrick Herrmann's equaliser and Georgi Schennikov's sending-off before the break took the wind out of their sails. Sebastian Rudy's 69th-minute penalty put Germany in front and although Fedor Smolov nearly earned Nikolai Pisarev's men a point late on, it was Russia who finished their campaign with no points.

Red cards have hurt Russia in this tournament and, following Nikita Chicherin's dismissal on Saturday, Schennikov had to depart six minutes before the break after fouling Tony Jantschke. Up to that point, they had looked clever and dangerous – especially through Dzagoev – even if Germany had cancelled out the PFC CSKA Moskva man's goal.

That opener arrived after Rainer Adrion's side failed to clear their lines and the ball, unfortunately for them, fell to Dzagoev. A rapid exchange of passes with Shota Bibilov and the player who made his senior debut against Germany in 2008 fired in left-footed from just inside the area.

Germany had come close to scoring themselves, with the industrious Kevin Volland not quite finding the finishing touch on a couple of occasions. He proved himself a precise provider, though, when he burst away down the left and crossed for Herrmann to tuck in a 34th-minute leveller.

Initially, the sending-off did not change the pattern of play in what had been an even game thus far. But Herrmann volleyed just wide soon after the break and only Aleksandr Flitsov's outstretched right leg stopped substitute Sebastian Polter as he bore down on goal.

Denis Cheryshev shot just over at the other end, but a minute later Germany were in front when Taras Burlak impeded Herrmann and half-time substitute Rudy stepped up to convert his second penalty of the finals. Patrick Funk brought the best from Flitsov, but Dzagoev was a whisker away from a superb second with ten minutes remaining as Russia pushed Germany to the end.

Fedor Smolov then hit the post with a fierce drive but it could not prevent Russia becoming the fifth side to gain no points at a finals since the onset of an eight-team group stage.