This was the first quarter final of the competition, with Portugal coming top of their group with six points. Germany, however, looked shaky in the group stages, coming second in their group after a disappointing loss to Croatia.
Portugal started well, playing good football, but neither team really pressed in the first ten minutes or so. The Portuguese started to find their feet, and created a good opportunity or two that could have been turned in. But then, as we’ve seen so many times in this competition, a quick counter attack led to the first goal. Bastian Schweinsteiger applied the final touch after a bursting run and a superb cross from Klose meant an easy tap in.
It was just four minutes later when the Germans doubled their lead. A free kick from the left side of the pitch had pin point accuracy, and poor defending from the Portuguese meant that Klose had a free header to score his first goal of the tournament.
After that Germany looked extremely likely to add a second, playing extremely good football in both attack and defense, although a couple of off side decisions meant they couldn’t add another goal in the first half.
Portugal, however, added a goal before the half time whistle was blown, Nuno Gomes adding the final touch from a rebound after Jens Lehmann saved Cristiano Ronaldo’s shot.
In the second half the Germans started the brighter team, with some more good attacking play leading to another goal, extremely similar to the second. A free kick from the left, to the back post, and a little push from Michael Ballack meant that he had a bit more room to apply the finishing touch, and it looked like there was no way back for Portugal.
The Portuguese then found some confidence, but they simply couldn’t get through the German defense until late in the second half, Nani crossing for Postiga to head the ball in, bringing the Portuguese within just one goal of the Germans, but they couldn’t do enough to win it.
This was a very exciting game, with Germany dominating for the majority of the ninety minutes, and although the score line flatters the Portuguese a bit, they go home with nothing to show for their efforts, and Germany go through clear favorites for the semi final they will play against either Croatia or Turkey.
Final Score:
Portugal 2 – 3 Germany
Watch the five GOALS:
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June 20th, 2008
Both teams went in to this game not knowing whether they would go through or not. Germany would get through with a draw, but Austria needed a win. Germany went in to this game missing Schweinsteiger after he foolishly got sent off in the last game against Croatia.
Germany started well, the men in white pressing on to the Austrian goal, keeping possession well and creating a couple of good opportunities where if the delivery had been a bit better they might have scored. The problem seemed to be that they were playing down the middle too much, when they should have tried to spread the ball wide.
Austria took control of the game after about twenty minutes, putting Germany under pressure for what was pretty much the rest of the first half. They had a couple of opportunities, and, unlike the Germans, were using the width well.
Although both teams played reasonably in their spells, Austria seemed to be on top, but the first half was fairly uninspiring and neither team created any opportunities where they should have scored.
In the second half the game immediately livened up and Germany were playing much better football. It was just four minutes after the second half started that Germany got a free kick and Chelsea midfield star Michael Ballack smashed the ball home from distance, leaving Macho, the Austrian goal keeper, with no chance.
As the game progressed Germany started to look more and more likely to win, with Austria only really getting ‘half chances’ and they failed to utilize these. Germany should have added a couple more goals to their tally, after good opportunities fell to Klose and Neuville, as well as a goal disallowed for off side, when it clearly wasn’t.
Overall a pretty poor game from both teams, and co hosts Austria leave the competition empty handed, although Germany will be happy they’re through.
Final Score:
Austria 0 – 1 Germany
Watch the GOAL:
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June 17th, 2008
Jens Lehman supposedly gave the middle finger gesture to Germany’s fans during the match against Cyprus where they won 4-0 against them. The fans where chanting for Robert Enke to replace Lehman on the pitch. Now if he really did it or that he was only scratching his face, i don’t know, but the German media is sure that it was a rude gesture and they wont back down.
Of-course he denied these accusations, and of-course the president of the GFA stood beside him and gave his support stating “I will stand up for him here, He knows there’s no reason to make gestures that could hurt fans. I know he respects the fans”.
Jens Lehman already have enough controversies, since he was dropped from first choice in the start of the season in Arsenal and was replaced by Manuel Almunia, he criticized both Almunia and Wenger several times and announced that he is leaving Arsenal in January.
I like Lehman, he was part of the team in Arsenal who spent a full season with no defeats, remember that ?, so i really hate to see him go from arsenal, at least not like this. But since his flare-up with Oliver Kahn we know what kind of personality he has. So i don’t dismiss that he actually might have done that gesture, and if it was found that it was deliberate, i think we have seen the last of Lehman on both German National team and Arsenal.
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November 19th, 2007
