Game in a sentence
A tight, quite dull, affair springs into life in the final twenty minutes after Mario Gomez produces a fantastic header to put his recent troubles behind him and secure all three points for Germany.
Observations
- It was far from a classic. Portugal defended deep throughout, stayed disciplined within their shape and looked to stop Germany from creating. It worked for just over three quarters of the match.
- Ultimately, though, the one image most will take from this game is the Bayern Munich striker timing his jump to perfection and glancing a wonderful header past Rui Patricio in the Portugal goal.
- The goal was a gigantic one for Germany for so many reasons. Much of the talk heading into this game was around ‘Gomez or Klose’ with worries over the mental state of Gomez after his dismal showing in the Champions League final. Michael Ballack on ESPN pre-match also said the frontman was ‘sensitive’, suggesting that is why Joachim Low picked him in this game.
- Low’s decision proved correct. Gomez, who missed a sitter from two yards against Austria four years ago, had yet to prove himself on this stage but that all ended on this night in Lviv, ironically just seconds before his number was about to be put up by the official for Klose.
- Low, who needs Gomez to be full of confidence this month, was seconds away from removing his star striker, a substitution that would have forced him to answer questions about the player between now and Wednesday but thanks to that one header all that ended in that moment.
- Germany were probably just about worthy winners in this match. Their ability to counter Portugal’s deep defending by stretching the field with Thomas Muller and Lukas Podolski should be admired. In a tournament full of narrow 4-2-3-1 formations, Germany’s wingers and full backs attacking the white line and sending accurate crosses into the box will be a rare site.
- They also defended extremely well. Mats Hummels, preferred over Per Mertesacker, was superb alongside the excellent Holger Badstuber and that pair looks set to be their centre back partnership for the rest of the tournament.
- Portugal will be disappointed to not get a point in this match but, in truth, their stubborn defensively display was the only area of their team to be admired. That leaves people to once again question their tactics. They don’t look like scoring many goals until they go behind and strangely they looked a lot more dangerous once they were losing.
- Although Paulo Bento’s tactics will be questioned, Portugal fans will be best to be reminded that they came very close to beating arguably the best team in this tournament. They prevented Germany from countering with pace, moving the ball quickly and almost took the lead on them when Pepe’s shot hit the crossbar and came down just on the line.
- Next for them comes Denmark, a side that did Portugal a huge favour in taking all three points off the Dutch earlier in the day. For Portugal, this group was not what they could do against Germany. It was all about beating Denmark on the pitch and beating Netherlands in points gained in the group. Both of those scenarios still look very possible.
- Finally, we have to mention Cristiano Ronaldo. On the pitch he struggled to get space to create much but the big story came at half time when he came out with a short sleeve shirt on and with a new hair style!!
Ronaldo in the first half.
Ronaldo in the second half.
Three Stars
- Thomas Muller
- Joao Moutinho
- Mario Gomez
Six Super Stats
- Germany remain unbeaten in all of their 11 opening matches at Euro Final tournaments recording 6 wins and 5 draws.
- Portugal have now lost 3 successive European Championship matches for the first time in the history of the competition. At Euro 2008 Portugal lost to Switzerland (0-2) and Germany (2-3) and now they fall to Germany again.
- Germany have now won their last 12 competitive matches since losing to Spain in the 2012 World Cup semis. Only Spain are on a longer winning streak in competitive matches (14).
- Germany have now scored at least once in each of their last 17 matches, the longest running scoring streak apart from Uruguay (18).
- Mario Gomez has now scored the opening goal for Germany 8 times with Germany winning 6, drawing once and losing once.
- At age 20 Nélson Oliveira became the second youngest player ever to represent Portugal at the Euro’s. Only Cristiano Ronaldo (19) was younger at his Euro debut in 2004.
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I respect your opinion Christian, but I have to disagree with your choice of Muller as a star of the match… in my opinion his hesitance and poor decision on the flank cost ger a couple of decent chances… his crosses left a lot to be desired I would replace him with khedira. the man never stopped working … he was also surprisingly fast and totally imposing in the midfield along shweini.
Khedira was right there on the pitch! Replace Mueller with Goetze in the starting XI would be premature to say the least.
Khedira played well but honestly I think Muller was excellent in connecting with Ozil. Thanks for the comment Rob. Truthfully, it was one of the hardest games to pick ’3 stars’. No one really stood out above and beyond anyone – Ozil was great, as was Hummels, Badstuber, Boateng. Hopefully you’ll be more impressed with my other selections as the games wear on. Cheers :)
Great analysis kj, but i think that hummels was thd best player on the pitch, especially after his shaky performances for Germany in the past. Safe to say that he found his Dortmond form tonight. I will be shocked if this remains the starting line up through out the tournament. I think Reus or Schuerrle will take over the letf wing from Podolski.
Agreed Hummels was my man of the match. Coentrao also looked dangerous for the Portuguese.
A lot of the players looked lacking in sharpness. So many errant crosses and shots from distance into the stratosphere. Hopefully things will get smoother as the tournament progresses.
Hummels and Coentrao had solid games along with Neuer. So much for the thought of Germany looking shaky at the back. When they were called upon, they did what they had to do. It’s the attack that needs a little extra drive in the final third. Everything else is there except for that. It’s early though, so things may change.
Portugal will be disappointed to not get a point in this match but, in truth, their stubborn defensively display was the only area of their team to be admired. ”
I don’t agree with this part, specially when Portugal has the best chance to score in the first half with a ball on the crossbar… Portugal played rather well considering everyone in the media had written them off in this tournament before it even started…
All I can say wow great job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kristian, I heard the comment from you and James that Ronaldo should be given a break because he is in a tough group. If he wants to be known as the BEST in the world than he should prove it and help his country in this tourny. Should he only be applauded when he scores goals against Bosnia and Cyprus?. Great players show up in BIG moments. He can’t just do nothing in this tourny than have people say he should be WPOTY. He did nothing today. The most he did was change his hairstyle at halftime. If people want to go on about Messi playing poorly for Argentina than Ronaldo deserves the same criticism.
Interesting note. Because Messi scored a hattrick against his big rivals Brasil today as well. Personally, I think that just serves as further evidence that Messi is the best player in the world. Not only because of his skill, but because of his ability to perform in big matches.
Hmm…I think you may have misunderstood what a “big game” really is.
A Friendly is much less important than a Tournament game no matter who is involved.
Though to be fair Ronaldo does need to achieve a bit more internationally before he can be able to pass Messi as the media’s darling
Did anyone else notice that Ronaldo had two different hairstyles? Slick and greasy in the first half, spiky and dishevelled in the second half. Nice problem to have I guess…
Portugal should not have played so defensive minded, they have the talent to attack and create chances and beat any team. Portugal don’t do themselves any favours by sitting back and hoping for a chance on the counter. Especially against Germany, they were not favourites so they should have just gave it a go and go all out and at least they would have known they gave it everything.
I hope the next two games they play like they are a goal down the whole game.
“•Germany were probably just about worthy winners in this match”
KJ, Really??????
A just result in this game would have been a 1-1 draw. Shots on target …..Germany 4 Portugal 7. Portugal hit two cross bars in that match.
You must be Portuguese. Germany were worthy winners of the game. Portugal didn’t offer anything to the game until they went down 1-0. Besides Pepe chance that came off a set piece, when it came to open play, portugal did nothing. Sloppy in possession, defensive, dull…what else can you say?
With a name like Gus….you would be Greek. That being the case, you would certainly be an authority on the subject of a team not offering anything to a game, defensive and dull soccer.
Portugal is the most boring team to watch in the whole world, bar none. There that’s my analysis. :)
haha your an idiot..that my analysis
hahahaha LOL!
Me Gusta. =)
German whooped Argentina in 2010, Messi was no where to be found. Now he suddenly appears in a friendly, which is meaningless and against the youngest and most inexperienced defense that Brazil has put out and he’s the GOAT. Get out of here!
Hahaha you’re dumb.
Footy’s a team sport buddy, no matter how good you are. His team mates were non existent along. That along with the fact that they didn’t and still don’t have a defence, they were set up to get dominated against Germany. Oh, and the coach was Maradona as well.
You blaming all that on Messi? hahah you’re dumb.
Your the idiot. If he’s suppose to be the GOAT then he should be able to perform for his country.
Performing against Brazil B squad isn’t impressive.
Bro, he didn’t ‘perform’ as you and I would.
He scored a fcking HATRICK AGAINST BRAZIL. OWNED MARCELO on the by line and destroyed everyone after that.
Oh, and ronalda not showing up against germany is impressive?
I thought Portugal played ok, they didn’t offer a lot going forward but its not like Germany were doing anything so special. The goal was a lucky play and Bento’s strategy of avoiding the dangerous German counter-attack nearly paid off. Not having a decent striker is what really sets Portugal back.
I think they should have Ronaldo as striker. I play him as striker in FIFA12 and he does great ;D
Reading some of these reviews on Portugal’s game against Germany, I can’t help but think that most of them are based on recent Portugal Vs England results… Some of these reviews are clearly biased, and based on personal hatred towards Ronaldo and Portugal ability to eliminate England from major tournaments…
Portugal didn’t look like the dominant team in this game, but after the first 15 Minutes Portugal played face to face with Germany, I don’t get how everyone criticizes Portugal defensive style, Before the game even started nobody gave Portugal a chance, and now you come and criticize their defensive style..
The German cross into the box that led to the goal deflected of Moutinho, had that not deflected who knows where it would have ended up. Germany had luck n their side not superiority..
Well said. Luck could have changed the outcome on Pepe’s strike that hit the crossbar and it would be a whole different story.
Portugal need to play:
Ronaldo up top.
Nani on the left.
Quaresma on the right.
Works on FIFA ALL THE TIME.
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