Germany’s hopes of winning the Nations League were dashed in a 2-1 defeat to Portugal in the semi-finals. The match took place at Allianz Arena in Munich, a venue that has witnessed thrilling encounters between these two teams before.
Previous Encounter
The last time Germany and Portugal faced each other was during the EURO 2020 group stages, also held at Allianz Arena, where Germany secured a 4-2 victory. However, they were unable to replicate that success this time.
Match Overview
The match got off to an unusual start due to a hailstorm that delayed the kick-off by about an hour. Once play resumed, both teams showed no signs of rustiness as they battled it out on the pitch.
First Half
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Germany started brightly and had several early chances:
- Leon Goretzka had an opportunity on the edge of the box but failed to test Diogo Costa in goal for Portugal.
- Nick Woltemade also had a chance from distance, but his effort flew across the face of goal without troubling Costa.
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Portugal’s strategy centered around counterattacking, rarely worrying Germany when building their own attacks. Most of their chances came when Germany pushed up the pitch, leaving themselves exposed at the back.
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Despite not creating many clear-cut chances, Portugal managed to take the lead through Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored his record-breaking 122nd international goal. He was set free down the right flank by Joao Felix, cut inside onto his left foot, and fired a low shot past Manuel Neuer just before halftime.
Post-Match Reflections
Julian Nagelsmann, Germany’s coach, reflected on the team’s performance despite the loss:
- "We’ve worked so hard over these two years. It hurts me deeply that we didn’t make use of our opportunities today."
- "I’m proud of my team. They fought until the end and gave everything they had."
- "Of course I am disappointed with the result, but there are no excuses – we just weren’t clinical enough today."
Second Half
Florian Wirtz equalized for Germany early in the second half:
- He scored a header from a Joshua Kimmich cross after winning the ball back from a counterpress. Kimmich then played a chip that Wirtz headed home past Diogo Costa.
However, Ronaldo would go on to score again late in the second half, securing the win for Portugal and sending Spain into the final, where they will meet France next week.
Ronaldo’s Comments
Post-match, Ronaldo expressed his thoughts:
- "It is difficult because you can’t change anything now. We have done everything possible."
- "I am very happy because we have qualified for the Spain-France final, which is what everyone wanted."
- He hopes fans enjoy watching those two teams compete against each other next week.
Conclusion
The semi-finals match between Germany and Portugal ended with a disappointing result for German fans but provided an exciting display of football nonetheless. The stage is now set for an exciting final showdown between Spain and France next week!
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