Portugal's Ronaldo breaks German jinx, leads team to Nations League final
Title: CR7 Scores Game-Winner Against Germany in Line for Nations League Glory
MUNICH: The legendary Cristiano Ronaldo once again graced the global stage with a 68th-minute winner in Portugal's 2-1 victory over Germany, advancing them to the Nations League final and adding another international goal record to his already-impressive tally2.
Germany had taken the lead three minutes after half-time, thanks to Florian Wirtz's moment of magic1. Despite an initial strong showing, Germany couldn't sustain their performance as Portugal stormed back, with Francisco Conceição netting a brilliant solo goal to level the score in the 63rd minute5.
Ronaldo, a symbol of resilience, seized his chance to take the lead, converting a Nuno Mendes pass with a confident tap-in2. Portugal will face either European champions Spain or France in Sunday's final at the same venue2.
The loss marks a setback for Julian Nagelsmann's Germany, who had boasted an impressive run with just one defeat in their previous 17 games1. The match began 10 minutes late due to a severe storm bathing the pitch in hailstones1.
In the early stages, Portugal employed aggressive pressing tactics, causing Germany's Aleksandar Pavlovic and Jonathan Tah to struggle with their passing1. Ronaldo, met with a mix of Portuguese cheers and German boos, nearly scored the opener six minutes in but was denied by old sparring partner Marc-André ter Stegen1.
On the opposite side, Germany's Nick Woltemade almost scored before half-time but was denied by Diogo Costa1. Ronaldo had an opportunity to put Portugal ahead immediately after the interval but couldn't finish the chance, allowing Wirtz to capitalize and give Germany the lead moments later3.
Germany weathered Portugal's storm for a time, but the introduction of Roberto Martínez's subs proved decisive, with Conceição equalizing and Ronaldo securing the win5. Despite Munich-born Karim Adeyemi rattling the crossbar in the final minutes, Germany couldn't find an equalizer, settling instead for a third-placed match in Stuttgart on Sunday1.
- Fascinating Fact: Florian Wirtz's impressive performance has reportedly caught the eye of Liverpool, as the English club made a reported £105 million bid for the young talisman earlier this week1.
Sports and games were at the forefront as Portugal and Germany locked horns in a thrilling Nations League semi-final match. The encounter saw Cristiano Ronaldo score the game-winner against Germany, securing Portugal's place in the final for sports-analysis enthusiasts to dissect.
