News (engl.)

Germany missed their opportunity of playing a home final in the UEFA Nations League after losing the first semi-final 2-1 to Portugal in Munich on Wednesday evening. While the Selecao will stay in Bavaria for Sunday evening’s final (21:00 CEST) as they look to win the competition for a second time, Germany will play the loser of the second semi-final, between Spain and France, on Sunday afternoon in Stuttgart (15:00 CEST).

Following a relatively quiet first half in Munich, Florian Wirtz broke the deadlock in the 48th minute with his header. However, Portugal, virtually at full strength unlike Germany, turned the game around with two goals inside five minutes. Francisco Conceicao’s (63’) strike from distance levelled proceedings and then Cristiano Ronaldo (68’) tapped home their second to secure his first ever win over Germany.

Germany with the better chances in the first half

The match in Munich got off to a lively start without much of a settling-in phase, with the first chance falling to the home side, who were wearing their special anniversary kit to mark 125 years of the DFB. A chip from Florian Wirtz down to the byline found Joshua Kimmich, who had been accompanied onto the pitch by one of his sons as a mascot and was honoured before kick-off by DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and sporting director Rudi Völler for reaching 100 international caps. Kimmich cut the ball back to Leon Goretzka, who seemed caught off guard and could only manage a low, fairly tame shot from around nine metres out, straight at keeper Diogo Costa. At the other end, after a surging run by the pacy Pedro Neto, Portugal’s record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo got a shot away, but it was comfortably dealt with by Marc-André ter Stegen, making his return in goal after nearly nine months out injured (7’).

Portugal, who won the inaugural edition of the UEFA Nations League in 2019, were the better team in the opening 15 minutes and often threatened via Neto down the left wing. The 25-year-old got a shot off himself in the 11th minute but couldn’t get it on target. Germany started to improve by this point and started to get the 2016 European champions under control. Nick Woltemade, on his debut, combined nicely with Aleksandar Pavlovic, only to see Costa make a fine save from close range. The Portugal shot-stopper was then on his toes three minutes later to frustrate Leon Goretzka (21’).

Portugal sat back a lot and waited for opportunities to counter, which in turn made it tough for Julian Nagelsmann’s team to find space to put together dangerous attacks. The first half was ultimately a tight affair with a lot of the game played in the middle of the park.

Wirtz’s header breaks the deadlock before Portugal score twice

With less than a minute played in the second half, Ronaldo narrowly slid past a cross in the box. At the other end, Kimmich’s sumptuous chipped ball into the area was headed home into the far corner by Florian Wirtz after Woltemade cleverly blocked off the defender (48’). Referee Slavko Vincic did go to watch the goal back after VAR intervention but saw nothing wrong and Germany therefore took the lead.

Despite taking the lead, life was tough for Germany in the second half. Robin Koch did well to deflect a Bruno Fernandes strike past the post (57’), before coach Nagelsmann responded by making a triple change, bringing on Serge Gnabry, Robin Gosens and Niclas Füllkrug (60’). However, they couldn’t do anything to stop fellow substitute Francisco Conceicao from equalising. The Portuguese winger drove forward with the ball and curled it into the far corner (63’).

Portugal were now right on top and despite Germany’s best efforts, they were able to take the lead just five minutes after their leveller. Nuno Mendes played a one-two with Fernandes, sprinted in behind and then squared it for Ronaldo, who had a simple finish into an open goal (68’). Now ahead, Portugal were able to sit back again and let Germany attack, allowing them space on the break. Goalscorer Francisco Conceicao missed a chance to kill the game off in the 81st minute.

Substitute Karim Adeyemi fired a shot off the outside of the post a minute later, though that was to be the closest Germany came at the death. Ter Stegen kept his side in the game with a fantastic double save against Diogo Jota and Conceicao (89’) – it didn’t matter in the end though as it finished 2-1 to Portugal.