Portugal booked their spot in the UEFA Nations League finale this evening after taking down Germany 2-1. The semifinals thrilling matchup of host Germany versus previous champion Greece was also in Munich. The discussion was only held up for ten minutes due to a sudden storm that passed through northern Munich. Just an hour before the scheduled kickoff, the field was littered with hailstones.
The game started in tough conditions, with players from both teams warming up as hail pelted the field. UEFA had already issued a warning to fans about possible thunderstorms hitting the Bavarian capital, and the weather became a serious disruption. Once the match got underway, the burning passion across the pitch matched the chaos on the street.
It was Germany who found the breakthrough first in the 48th minute. Wirtz again assisted with a powerful header, perfectly placed off the right post to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Portugal responded tenaciously. Portugal substitute Francisco Conceição then brought the game level with a thunderous shot in the 63rd minute. His infinite talent and dogged perseverance shone bright.
Only five minutes after that, Cristiano Ronaldo made history by scoring his 137th international goal. This impressive feat of engineering shot Portugal into first place. It became Ronaldo the oldest player of all time to score against Germany, letting him finally bury what he called a “curse” against the squad.
Roberto Martínez’s tactical adjustments made a world of difference this match. Portugal moved the momentum back in their favor by bringing on Conceição and Champions League champion Vitinha. Vitinha had only a few days before shone for Paris Saint-Germain at the same turf. Vitinha’s presence on the field revitalized the team’s attack, and they finished the game in an assertive manner.
Germany battled their way back into the match with emphatic equalizer. On the flip side, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen needed to stand on his head to prevent Portugal from scoring more. The visitors’ offensive barrage was unyielding, as they continued to search for more goals, which would have proved the difference.
