LILLE: Germany’s first penalty miss at a European Championship for 40 years proved but a footnote on Sunday as the team eased into the quarter-finals with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of Slovakia.

Goals from Jerome Boateng, Mario Gomez and man-of-the-match Julian Draxler ensured the world champion did not rue Mesut Ozil’s missed spot kick early in the first half.

Up next for Germany is a quarterfinal-clash against two-time defending champion Spain or old rival Italy for what will undoubtedly be one of the most-anticipated matches in the next round.

Germany produced their best performance of the tournament yet, showing their defensive resilience as well as attacking ambition in a display that augurs well for the tougher challenges ahead.

“Today was a good performance, in defence and in attack,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said. “But with due respect to our opponent, this was not an indicator for how the tournament will go on. We have to improve further to be successful.”

Loew is looking forward to the bigger challenges ahead, with France a possible semi-final opponent.

“I think we have to become even stronger if we want to play a decisive role in this tournament,” Loew said. “Of course, we will improve against better opponents.”

World Cup holders Germany never looked troubled by a Slovakia side which had beaten them 3-1 in a recent friendly and held England to a goalless draw.

Boateng’s 25-metre power drive after eight minutes at Lille was the Bayern Munich centre-back’s first goal for his country.

“I hit the ball well and am glad it went in. It was also about time,” said Boateng.

The Germans then saw Ozil’s weak 13th-minute penalty saved but Gomez made no mistake two minutes from halftime when he tapped home a perfect cut-back from the marauding Draxler who added the third with a fine strike just past the hour mark.

“We know his capabilities. He has two magic feet and I’m happy for him that it led to a goal. He always gives for the side and I’m happy for him,” Gomez said of the Vfl Wolfsburg winger, who was instructed to take on his man by Loew.

Draxler added: “He [Loew] gave me a lot of self-confidence, trusted me and wanted me to search for a lot of one-on-ones.

“I think we were superior and well deserving of a victory. It was nice to be in front after the goal by Boateng. We could even afford not to score the penalty.”

Slovakia midfielder Marek Hamsik, who was involved in his side’s few forays forward, looked back on a campaign that yielded a 2-1 win over Russia and a scoreless draw with England.

“It’s a pity the way we lost,” Hamsik said. “But looking back at the whole championships, I am happy what we achieved.”

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2016