Portugal and Germany locked horns at the Allianz Arena in one of the most exciting matches at Euro 2020 on Saturday. Despite taking an early lead, the reigning European Champions ended up on the wrong end of a 4-2 scoreline.
Portugal headed into proceedings on the back of a 3-0 thumping of Hungary in their Group F curtain-raiser. Fernando Santos’ men were pursuing all three points that would catapult them into the knock-out stages of Euro 2020, with Cristiano Ronaldo propelling them to an early advantage.
The Selecao all-time highest scorer tapped the ball into an empty net following Portugal’s blistering counter-attack to take his tally at the tournament to three. However, Santos’ defensive set-up failed to live up to expectations, with Germany’s unrelenting first-half pressure seeing them overturn the scoreline before half-time.
Auf geht's! ?#POR 0-0 #GER#DieMannschaft #EURO2020 #PORGER pic.twitter.com/dRkIVoF2LJ
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) June 19, 2021
Atalanta wing-back Robin Gosens had a game to remember. The 26-year-old broke the deadlock but only to see VAR rule out his acrobatic strike for offside. However, he continued to cause Portugal all sorts of problems down the left flank, with his bursting runs paying off in the 35th minute.
Gosens whipped the ball into the box as Manchester City’s Ruben Dias scored an unfortunate own goal, trying to prevent Kai Havertz from getting on the receiving end of the cross.
Only five minutes after leveling the score, Die Mannschaft managed to turn the tables on Portugal with another sloppy piece of defending. Borussia Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro hammered the ball into his own net to give Germany a 2-1 half-time lead.
Joachim Low’s men nearly doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time, but Rui Patricio denied Serge Gnabry’s powerful left-footed effort.
The Germans continued to pile on the pressure at the beginning of the second half and scored a well-deserved third goal through Havertz. The Chelsea forward put the ball into the net following another pinpoint delivery from Gosens.
Proof for the doubters ?#POR 1-3 #GER#DieMannschaft #EURO2020 #PORGER pic.twitter.com/LEprutTUpL
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) June 19, 2021
After contributing to two goals, the Atalanta star scored one himself to seal Portugal’s destiny. Gosens ran behind his marker to slot home Joshua Kimmich’s inch-perfect cross to put Germany’s fourth on the scoreboard.
Portugal managed to pull one back as Diogo Jota put the ball in on Ronaldo’s cutback to make it 4-2. Renato Sanchez came close to dragging the Selecao back into the match, but his outrageous long-range strike hit the woodwork.
Germany got off the mark in Group F following a narrow 1-0 loss to France in their tournament opener. They will meet Hungary at the Allianz Arena in their final match of “Group of Death,” while Portugal will exchange tackles with France in a mouth-watering clash.
MATCH SCORECARD
June 19, 2021 – European Championship 2020 Group F
PORTUGAL-GERMANY 2-4
SCORERS: 15′ Cristiano Ronaldo (P), 35′ Ruben Dias (P, o.g.), 39′ Guerreiro (P, o.g.), 51′ Havertz (G), 60′ Gosens (G), 67′ Diogo Jota (P)
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PORTUGAL (4-2-3-1): Rui Patrício; Semedo, Ruben Dias, Pepe, Guerreiro; Danilo, William Carvalho (58′ Rafa Silva); Bernardo Silva (46′ Renato Sanches), Bruno Fernandes (64′ Moutinho), Diogo Jota (83′ Andre Silva); Cristiano Ronaldo. (Lopes, Goncalo Guedes, Goncalves, Neves, Fonte, Palhinha, Diogo Dalot, Rui Silva) Coach: Fernando Santos |
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GERMANY (3-4-2-1): Neuer; Ginter, Hummels (63′ Emre Can), Rudiger; Kimmich, Gundogan (73′ Sule), Kroos, Gosens (62′ Halstenberg) ; Havertz (73′ Goretzka), Muller; Gnabry (Leno, Trapp, Gunter, Neuhaus, Koch, Volland, Werner, Sanen) Coach: Low |
REFEREE: Taylor (England) NOTES: Yellow Card: Havertz (G)