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6/19/2008 4:37 PM
Gallant Germans Send Portugal Packing
Portugal 2-3 Germany
Germany booked their place in the semi-finals of Euro 2008 after a thrilling 3-2 win over Portugal at St. Jakob Park in Basel.
Group A winners Portugal reverted to their strongest team, having rested eight first-team players during the dead-rubber 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Switzerland. Ronaldo, Simao and Deco supported lone striker Nuno Gomes.
Germany Coach Joachim Low, who was serving a one match touchline ban, made a few interesting changes. Torsten Frings failed to recover from injury, while Clemens Fritz and misfiring forward Mario Gomez were both dropped. Simon Rolfes took Frings’ holding role, Bastian Schweinsteiger returned from suspension to play on the right, with Tomas Hitzlsperger on the left flank. Lukas Podolski was pushed up-front to partner Miroslav Klose.
It was a cagey start to the game, but Hitzlsperger had two long-range attempts in the first 10 minutes, the first a free kick that crashed into the wall, and the second a shot from the right into the side-netting.
Bosingwa bombed down the Portugal right and whipped in a dangerous cross, but Nuno Gomes didn’t react fast enough.
On 15 minutes Deco released Simao with a delightful slide-rule pass, but Lehmann comfortably saved the winger’s near post shot. Ronaldo nearly got in on goal, but he was denied by an excellent covering tackle from Arne Friedrich.
Down the other end Michael Ballack towered above Pepe following a quickly taken corner but could only direct his header over the bar.
Portugal missed the first real chance of the game on 20 minutes, as Bosingwa curled in another cross, but from just six yards out Joao Moutinho kneed the ball over.
Just 60 seconds later Germany were ahead following a superb team move. Podoloski and Ballack played a one-two down the left, and the former crossed for Schweinsteiger, who darted to the near post to turn the ball past Ricardo.
Germany were rampant, and they doubled their lead just a few minutes later as Klose was left completely unmarked inside the box to nod home a Schweinsteiger free kick.
Portugal did not know what had hit them, and they were forced into a substitution on the half-hour mark as Moutinho failed to recover from a knock to the knee, and was replaced by Raul Meireles.
Portugal pushed their defensive line up looking for a goal. Nuno Gomes went down in the box looking for a penalty but the referee didn’t want to know, while Raul Meireles fired high and wide from distance.
On 40 minutes Portugal got back into the game, as Deco started the move that saw Ronaldo race clear on goal. The Manchester United man was denied by Lehmann, but Nuno Gomes was on hand to turn in the rebound.
Germany regrouped and Ballack forced a smart save out of Ricardo at his near post, however on the stroke of half time Ronaldo was inches away from levelling the scores as he cut in from the left and fired inches wide of Lehmann’s far post.
Into the second half and Portugal picked up where they left off, with the elegant Deco teeing up Raul Meireles to shoot wide from 25 yards. Petit also fired well off-target from long range.
Down the other end Podolski found space just outside the area, and hit a sweet half-volley not too far over.
On 56 minutes Pepe missed a glorious chance to equalise, as Deco flicked on a Simao corner, but the Real Madrid defender somehow headed the ball over from just a couple of yards out.
Just past the hour mark, and Portugal hit the self-destruct button, as Germany restored their two-goal advantage. Ricardo raced suicidally off his line on a floated Schweinsteiger left-wing free kick, and Ballack beat him to the ball to head into a gaping net.
Portugal now had a mountain to climb. Nani replaced Nuno Gomes, before Ronaldo fired well over from a free kick. Germany continued to attack too and Lahm lashed wide from 25 yards.
As the game moved into the final 20 minutes Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men became more and more desperate, resorting to a host of harmless long range efforts from Petit, Nani, Raul Meireles and Deco.
Germany were still looking dangerous when they came forward, and Podolski unleashed a stunning, swerving effort that flashed inches wide of the post with Ricardo completely beaten. The disappointing Simao then hit a curler from 25 yards but Lehmann watched it sail over.
Portugal looked like a beaten team but on 86 minutes they set-up a nervy finish as Nani crossed for another substitute Helder Postiga to head past Lehmann to make it 3-2.
Scolari’s men now threw everyone forward looking for an equaliser. Bosignwa fired well over as Germany put 10 men behind the ball. Podolski shot straight at Ricardo on the counter-attack, but the Germans held out for a thrilling 3-2 win. They will meet the winners of tomorrow’s Turkey-Croatia clash in the semi final in Basel on Wednesday night.
Portugal: Ricardo, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Pepe, Ferreira, Joao Moutinho (Raul Meireles 30), Petit (Postiga 73), Simao, Deco, Ronaldo, Nuno Gomes (Nani 67)
Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Schweinsteiger (Fritz 83), Rolfes, Ballack, Hitzsperger (Borowski 73), Klose (Jansen 88), Podolski
Carlo Garganese
Gallant Germans Send Portugal Packing
Portugal 2-3 Germany
Germany booked their place in the semi-finals of Euro 2008 after a thrilling 3-2 win over Portugal at St. Jakob Park in Basel.
Group A winners Portugal reverted to their strongest team, having rested eight first-team players during the dead-rubber 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Switzerland. Ronaldo, Simao and Deco supported lone striker Nuno Gomes.
Germany Coach Joachim Low, who was serving a one match touchline ban, made a few interesting changes. Torsten Frings failed to recover from injury, while Clemens Fritz and misfiring forward Mario Gomez were both dropped. Simon Rolfes took Frings’ holding role, Bastian Schweinsteiger returned from suspension to play on the right, with Tomas Hitzlsperger on the left flank. Lukas Podolski was pushed up-front to partner Miroslav Klose.
It was a cagey start to the game, but Hitzlsperger had two long-range attempts in the first 10 minutes, the first a free kick that crashed into the wall, and the second a shot from the right into the side-netting.
Bosingwa bombed down the Portugal right and whipped in a dangerous cross, but Nuno Gomes didn’t react fast enough.
On 15 minutes Deco released Simao with a delightful slide-rule pass, but Lehmann comfortably saved the winger’s near post shot. Ronaldo nearly got in on goal, but he was denied by an excellent covering tackle from Arne Friedrich.
Down the other end Michael Ballack towered above Pepe following a quickly taken corner but could only direct his header over the bar.
Portugal missed the first real chance of the game on 20 minutes, as Bosingwa curled in another cross, but from just six yards out Joao Moutinho kneed the ball over.
Just 60 seconds later Germany were ahead following a superb team move. Podoloski and Ballack played a one-two down the left, and the former crossed for Schweinsteiger, who darted to the near post to turn the ball past Ricardo.
Germany were rampant, and they doubled their lead just a few minutes later as Klose was left completely unmarked inside the box to nod home a Schweinsteiger free kick.
Portugal did not know what had hit them, and they were forced into a substitution on the half-hour mark as Moutinho failed to recover from a knock to the knee, and was replaced by Raul Meireles.
Portugal pushed their defensive line up looking for a goal. Nuno Gomes went down in the box looking for a penalty but the referee didn’t want to know, while Raul Meireles fired high and wide from distance.
On 40 minutes Portugal got back into the game, as Deco started the move that saw Ronaldo race clear on goal. The Manchester United man was denied by Lehmann, but Nuno Gomes was on hand to turn in the rebound.
Germany regrouped and Ballack forced a smart save out of Ricardo at his near post, however on the stroke of half time Ronaldo was inches away from levelling the scores as he cut in from the left and fired inches wide of Lehmann’s far post.
Into the second half and Portugal picked up where they left off, with the elegant Deco teeing up Raul Meireles to shoot wide from 25 yards. Petit also fired well off-target from long range.
Down the other end Podolski found space just outside the area, and hit a sweet half-volley not too far over.
On 56 minutes Pepe missed a glorious chance to equalise, as Deco flicked on a Simao corner, but the Real Madrid defender somehow headed the ball over from just a couple of yards out.
Just past the hour mark, and Portugal hit the self-destruct button, as Germany restored their two-goal advantage. Ricardo raced suicidally off his line on a floated Schweinsteiger left-wing free kick, and Ballack beat him to the ball to head into a gaping net.
Portugal now had a mountain to climb. Nani replaced Nuno Gomes, before Ronaldo fired well over from a free kick. Germany continued to attack too and Lahm lashed wide from 25 yards.
As the game moved into the final 20 minutes Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men became more and more desperate, resorting to a host of harmless long range efforts from Petit, Nani, Raul Meireles and Deco.
Germany were still looking dangerous when they came forward, and Podolski unleashed a stunning, swerving effort that flashed inches wide of the post with Ricardo completely beaten. The disappointing Simao then hit a curler from 25 yards but Lehmann watched it sail over.
Portugal looked like a beaten team but on 86 minutes they set-up a nervy finish as Nani crossed for another substitute Helder Postiga to head past Lehmann to make it 3-2.
Scolari’s men now threw everyone forward looking for an equaliser. Bosignwa fired well over as Germany put 10 men behind the ball. Podolski shot straight at Ricardo on the counter-attack, but the Germans held out for a thrilling 3-2 win. They will meet the winners of tomorrow’s Turkey-Croatia clash in the semi final in Basel on Wednesday night.
Portugal: Ricardo, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Pepe, Ferreira, Joao Moutinho (Raul Meireles 30), Petit (Postiga 73), Simao, Deco, Ronaldo, Nuno Gomes (Nani 67)
Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Schweinsteiger (Fritz 83), Rolfes, Ballack, Hitzsperger (Borowski 73), Klose (Jansen 88), Podolski
Carlo Garganese