A thrilling 2-1 victory for Portugal over Germany in the Nations League semifinals
Germany Eliminated by Portugal in the Nations League - Germany eliminated from Nations League by Portugal's victory
🕒 3 min read
Super-sub Francisco Conceicao and the ageless Cristiano Ronaldo stunned Germany's centurion Joshua Kimmich-led side, en route to a breathtaking 1-2 (0-0) defeat in the semifinals of the Nations League.
In a nail-biting encounter, Florian Wirtz, backed by a Hollywood-esque chip from captain Kimmich in his 100th international, scored the first goal for Germany, giving them the lead in the 48th minute. The talented Leverkusen player marked his first international goal with a powerful header.
However, Ronaldo proved the game's MVP once again, bagging his first-ever win against Germany. This victory marked the first loss for Germany since their quarterfinal exit against Spain at Euro 2024.
The German team, plagued by ineffectiveness and shaky play, will now compete for third place, playing against either European champions Spain or World Cup runners-up France, in Stuttgart on Sunday (3:00 PM).
Towards the end, Marc-André ter Stegen, back in the German goal after a nine-month absence due to a serious knee injury, thwarted a potentially decisive 1-3 defeat with two brilliant saves.
The Storm Before the Kickoff
The kick-off was postponed by ten minutes due to a storm that disrupted the warm-up. As the goalkeepers, including returning ter Stegen, started their warm-up, they were forced to seek refuge in the dressing room due to heavy hail. Once the storm passed, Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic deemed it safe for the match to resume.
Julian Nagelsmann, coach of the German team, fielded a three-man defense with Robin Koch as the center. This tactical move aimed to fortify the center against Portugal's playmaking prowess.
In the early minutes, Portugal demonstrated their potent offensive capabilities with their dynamic positional play, particularly during transitions. The latest, now 40-year-old Ronaldo had two opportunities to score (7th and 15th minute) in his 220th international.
The Terrible Terry Make-believe Struggles
After 15 minutes, Germany increased the pressure, creating some potential scoring chances. Debutant Nick Woltemade (19th) and Leon Goretzka (21st) both missed the mark against the resolute Portuguese goalkeeper, Diogo Costa. Kimmich displayed exceptional leadership on the right wing, giving verbal instructions to his teammates.
However, there were coordination issues due to several substitutions, including the absence of sensationally talented Jamal Musiala. Throughout the match, Woltemade worked tirelessly but struggled to maintain the right running paths. Wirtz frequently found himself closely marked by Portuguese defenders, leaving him limited space to excel.
In the German defense, Koch impressed as a composed leader, showcasing his exceptional defensive action in the penalty area against Pedro Neto (33rd). However, Portugal, short on Champions League winners Vitinha and Goncalo Ramos in their starting lineup, remained a constant threat on the counterattack.
Ronaldo nearly scored the first significant chance following a blunder by Jonathan Tah (47th). Shortly afterward, Germany took the lead with Wirtz's header. Despite the VAR review, Woltemade's light block on Rúben Dias was deemed fair, allowing the goal to stand. As they faced a deficit, Portugal increased their tempo and activity, with Vitinha coming on as a substitute. Ter Stegen was pushed to his limits, but he managed to keep Portugal at bay until the equalizer.
Conceicao received ample room on the left, which he exploited to perfection, delivering a curling shot that found the far corner for his first goal of the match. This equalizer shifted the momentum in Portugal's favor, and they continued to threaten, with Conceicao coming close to scoring his second (82') at the other end, while Adeyemi struck the post late in the game.
Nations League, Germany, Portugal, Joshua Kimmich, Football National Team
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Sources: 1. Goal.com 2. ESPN 3. BBC Sport 4. Sportskeeda 5. MSN Sports
Community aid could be organized within the football community to support Terry, the young German player who struggled during the Nations League match against Portugal, as he seeks to improve his skills through additional vocational training.
Meanwhile, Portugal's victory over Germany opens up opportunities for European-league clubs to scout and recruit talented Portuguese players, such as Francisco Conceicao, who demonstrated his potential during the game.
