Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the U21 Euro 2013, where Russia face Germany.

It's been a tournament for both nations to forget, with both sides losing their opening two matches and sitting bottom of the group with 0 points. Remind you of anyone?

However, Russia and Germany will both be eager to avoid finishing with no points and will look to play for some pride this afternoon.

I'll bring you team news shortly, but here is how both countries managed in their opening matches.

RUSSIA: Lost 1-0 to Spain, before finishing with 10 men as they were thumped 5-1 by the Netherlands.

GERMANY: Suffered a late 3-2 loss to the Dutch before going down to Spain1-0 in their second outing.

It's been 10 years since these two sides last met, when Russia were 2-1 winners in a friendly match back in 2003. However, this is the first time that the two have encountered one another in this competition.

Let's give you a brief history of their record in this tournament.

RUSSIA: They were the European champions as part of the Soviet Union in 1980 and 1990, but this year is their first appearance as an independent nation under the current format.

GERMANY: They won this competition back in 2009, but failed to qualify for Denmark last time out.

Right, time for team news.

RUSSIA XI: Filtsov , Tsallagov, Belyaev, Shchennikov, Emelyanov, Petrov, Bibilov, Dzagoev, Cheryshev, Grigoriev

GERMANY XI: Baumann, Jantschke, Sobiech, Mustafi, Thesker, Ginter, Rode, Holtby, Herrmann, Volland, Clemens

Names you recognise from those two lineups. From Russia, Alan Dzagoev was a star on the win for the senior side at Euro 2012. While Tottenham Hotspur's Lewis Holtby starts for Germany.

The two sides are out, Russia in red and Germany in white, and we're ready to go.

Quiet start to this match, with both teams exchanging possession.

Germany have been largely in control, not really letting Russia see much of the ball. As I say that, they have just won a throw though.

Grigoryev gets a talking to after a late foul on Jantschke.

SAVE! The chance of the game falls to Germany and it's a great one at that. They work the ball to the left of the box where a cross inside finds Herrmann, who wraps his foot around the ball but forces a tremendous stop from Filtsov.

CHANCE! Now it's Russia's turn to have a go on goal as Grigoryev takes a shot from the right of the box, but it is comfortably stopped by Baumann.

YELLOW CARD Cheryshev is the first man to go into the book this evening after a foul on Clemens.

SAVE! Filtsov again makes a top save to Germany the lead with a great reaction stop from his right boot to deny. Patrick Herrmann. A wonderful Lewis Holtby turn created the opening.

The game is a bit stop-start at the moment, a lot of tackles are going in.

YELLOW CARD And as I say that, Emelyanov is booked for chopping down Rode. The sixth foul Russia have committed so far, while Germany are yet to be penalised.

Volland tries to get a powerful shot away for Germany but his effort is blocked well.

It's a wonderful move from Russia and a great finish from Dzagoev, who gets his first goal of the tournament. The ball is whipped in from the left and is just begging Grigoryev to help it home from the edge of the six-yard box. However, he completely misses it! And looks dejected as the ball is half-cleared. Russia then win it back, and after some brilliant close passing involving Shota Bibilov, Dzagoev hammers the ball into the bottom corner. Great goal!

Germany, who have had more possession, are being forced to attack a bit more. They were one of the pre-tournament favourites, so surely they cannot end up with three defeats from three games?

YELLOW CARD Herrmann picks up a yellow card for Germany after hurling himself to the ground like a sack of spuds.

Germany have the ball in the back of the net, and it is a delightful chip from Volland, who draws the keeper out before leaning back and dinking the ball into the corner. However, he was just offside when receiving the pass.

Germany are level and it's a simple tap in for Herrmann who redeems himself for his shocking dive earlier. Volland takes the ball down the left of the box and drills a low cross square into the six-yard box. Filtsov is stranded, and Herrmann slides in at the far post to level the match.

Russia hit Germany on the counter and have a great chance to level. Dzagoev runs clear out towards the left, and has Cheryshev in acres of space inside the box. However, he gets his pass all wrong and scuffs it, allowing Germany to put it behind for a corner.

CHANCE! Dzagoev nearly makes up for his poor pass a second ago but heading just over the bar from the corner.

RED CARD! It's a shocking late challenge, and Russia are down to 10 men. Schennikov goes in well after Jantschke and catches him horribly. Uphill task for Russia now.

CHANCE! Germany have an opportunity from the resulting free kick, but Holtby fires it over. They need to make the most of their extra man now, with still 50 minutes of this match to go.

RUSSIA CHANGE Oleg Shatov comes on for the hobbling Roman Emelyanov just before the break.

Despite being a man down, Russia are still playing some nice stuff.

We'll have two minutes of added time.

Germany come forward, last chance of the half.

The referee brings an end to a very decent first half of football. Both sides had opportunities, and Russia went ahead through Alan Dzagoev in the 22nd minute with a wonderfully skillful goal. Patrick Herrmann levelled it up from close range 12 minutes later, before the Russians had Georgi Schennikov sent off for a reckless challenge.

Neither side has anything to play for, but I'm looking forward to the second half.

The teams are back out onto the field.

GERMANY CHANGES Lewis Holtby and Christian Clemens come off, with Sebastian Rudy and Sebastian Polter coming on.

Not much to report here at the moment.

RUSSIA CHANGE Grigoryev is the man to make way for Pavel Yakovlev.

CHANCE! Herrmann nearly bags a second when Polter bursts free down the left. He dinks a cross to the near post, but Herrmann can't direct his volley on target.

The game has gone a bit scrappy in the last few minutes, the first half started slow though so I'm sure it will pick up in a minute.

CHANCE! I told you! Germany very nearly go in front after Polter is played in through the middle. Filtsov comes to meet him and makes a tackle with his boot after the striker tried to dribble round him.

CHANCE! Germany go close again as the ball is brought into the box by Voller, he cuts it all the way back to Herrmann on the edge of the box, who tries to bend it with his left boot into the bottom corner, but it falls wide.

The tempo has really picked up in this match, both teams can sense that victory is still possible.

CHANCE! Baumann is forced into action as Russia are on the back foot but break with speed down the left. The ball is played to Denis Cheryshev whose effort is deflected up into the air and looks to be dropping into the back of the net before the keeper can get back to catch.

CHANCE! Cheryshev comes close for Russia this time, but his effort flies over the bar.

CHANCE! Russia are a whisker away from finding an equaliser. Bibilov holds the ball on the right of the box, and waits for Dzagoev to arrive on the edge of the area. He does so, and meets the pass with a vicious side-foot which screams just wide of the far post with Baumann well beaten.

Germany are in front from the spot after Burlak brings down Herrmann inside the box. Bibilov is booked for dissent, before Rudy sends the keeper the wrong way and smashes it into the bottom left corner.

GERMANY CHANGE Sebastian Rode comes off for Germany's final substitution as Patrick Funk enters the fray.

Germany are piling on the pressure as they look for a third goal to kill this contest. Filtsov has been called into action several times in the last five minutes or so.

RUSSIA CHANGE Denis Cheryshev is the third and final man to make way for Russia as Fedor Smolov enters the field.

Germany have the momentum once more, but cannot make a series of corner kicks count. Filtsov standing strong.

YELLOW CARD Belyaev is show a card for a late challenge.

Rudy finds the back of the net with a lovely volley, but he is offside.

OFF THE POST! Russia are fractions from drawing level. Smolov picks up the ball and runs to the right of the box before hammering a shot across the face of goal. It smashes the far post and bounces out before Germany clear it.

Two minutes of stoppage time to come.

Ginter skies one over for Germany.

CHANCE! Russia have the last chance of the game as Petrov skies one over from the edge of the box. That will be it.

And that's it, both sides go out of the tournament, but Germany do so on a high. It was a really good game that in the end was decided from the penalty spot.

That's all from me, I hope you enjoyed the action, see you again soon.