Battling Portugal for Overdue Triumph: DFB squad strives for treasure in Nations League semi-final
Football Player Pursues First League Title in Eleven Years during Mini-Home European Championship
Brace yourself for some raucous football action as the German national team squares off against Portugal in the Nations League semi-finals! Julian Nagelsmann, our affable coach, aims to snag the title at the Mini-Home-EM, which sets the stage for the thrilling 2026 World Cup.
What's Brewing for the DFB Squad in the Nations League Finale?
The German national football team dances into the fourth Nations League Final Four, with this 2025 event deservedly hosted in Germany for the first time. On June 4 (9 PM ET/ZDF, DAZN), the DFB team squares off against Portugal at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The following day (June 5), European champions Spain will tussle with World Cup runners-up France in Stuttgart (9 PM ET/ARD, DAZN), and the winners and losers will collide again for third and first place on June 8 in Stuttgart (3 PM ET) and Munich (9 PM ET) respectively (RTL, RTL+, and ntv.de live ticker).
Past Winners
In 2019, Portugal snatched the trophy at home against the Netherlands, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the decisive goal (1:0). Two years later, France bested Spain in Italy (2:1), and in 2023, Spain edged Croatia in the Netherlands (5:4 on penalties). Italy, England, Belgium, and Switzerland have also featured in the final tournament, while the German team makes its inaugural appearance.
Germany's Chances
Coach Julian Nagelsmann deems the Nations League a stepping stone towards glory at the 2026 World Cup and playfully refers to it as a "little title." Yet, he lays it out plainly, aiming to win and believing his team can do the deed. To thwart Portugal, he underscores the importance of matching their quarter-finals performance against Italy (2:1/3:3).
Team Roster Woes
The German team has braved some hard blows, forcing Nagelsmann to reshuffle his starting lineup significantly compared to the quarter-final rematch with Italy in March. Heavyweights Antonio Rüdiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jamal Musiala, and Tim Kleindienst are out. "The departures leave a bitter taste," Nagelsmann grumbled. Kai Havertz remains out, and four other short-term absences include Jonathan Burkardt, Angelo Stiller, Nadiem Amiri, and Yann-Aurel Bisseck.
Who Takes Center Stage?
Nagelsmann incorporates two new players: Tom Bischof of future Bayern Munich and Stuttgart sensation Nick Woltemade. Waldemar Anton, Serge Gnabry, Robin Gosens, Felix Nmecha, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Niclas Füllkrug rejoin the team.
Players to Watch
Our eyes will glue to two players undergoing significant issues: Bavarian stalwart Joshua Kimmich and the enigmatic Florian Wirtz. Nine years after making his international bow, the versatile Kimmich will don the captain's armband in the 100th internation against Portugal in Munich, after several disappointing international engagements, Kimmich yearns to put forth a winning performance, proclaiming, "It's crucial for us to demonstrate that we can triumph over Europe's top teams." As for Wirtz, the 22-year-old fills the spotlight, currently courting English champions FC Liverpool. Bayern bosses have expressed interest in recruiting him, but the prospective transfer fee hovers at an estimated 150 million euros, leaving Nagelsmann counting the minutes until Wirtz's return to the squad following Italy's demolition.
On the Coaching Staff
For the final time, Sandro Wagner will camp beside Nagelsmann on the coaching staff, with Wagner inching towards a new career as a head coach himself, taking charge of Bundesliga club FC Augsburg. Wagner's successor for the national team is already known: former professional Benjamin Hübner moves over from his co-trainer role at TSG Hoffenheim.
History Between Germany and Portugal
Germany has lingered as a specter of doom for Portugal, since defeating their Portuguese counterparts in 11 out of 19 encounters, earning five draws and only three victories for the Portuguese side—the last win being at the 2000 European Championship, an era marked by the presence of Lothar Matthäus.
Portugal's Star Players
Portugal fields elder statesman Ronaldo, Munich's João Palhinha, and 18-year-old phenom Rodrigo Mora from FC Porto. Spain enlists young sensation Lamine Yamal and 17 other European champions, while France flaunts captain Kylian Mbappé, Bayern star Michael Olise, and seven Champions League finalists, including Ousmane Dembélé.
The Value of the Nations League Trophy
With the 2026 World Cup swiftly approaching, the Nations League pearl heralds a significant boost to the gargantuan 48-team tournament in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Emerging victorious in the Nations League would fortify the German team with enough points for the World Ranking to solidify their place in the best pot for the World Cup draw. A semi-final defeat against Portugal could incline the German team to formidable adversaries like Spain, Argentina, France, or England in the World Cup group stage. However, the Final Four also comes complete with financial incentives. The DFB rakes in a tidy 2.25 million euros as an A-league participant and the same amount for winning the group stage, respectively. Reaching the final would pump an additional 4.5 million euros into the coffers, and snatching the Nations League trophy would return a whopping 6 million.
The DFB squad, guided by Julian Nagelsmann, is eager to implement their employment policy within the sporting context, as they aim to win the Nations League title and subsequently secure a favorable position in the World Cup draw. With key players like Joshua Kimmich and Florian Wirtz taking center stage, the community policy of fostering new talent will be put to the test against tough opponents such as Portugal, Spain, and France in the European-leagues.
