Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner as Portugal fought back to beat Germany 2-1 on Wednesday, securing their place in the Nations League final. Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to ever score against Germany, finally overcoming a personal “curse” against the team. Prior to this match, the former Real Madrid star had lost all five of his previous encounters with Germany, and Portugal hadn’t managed to defeat the 2014 World Cup champions since the year 2000.
Germany dominated the first half, yet the score remained 0-0 due to the exceptional performance of Portugal’s goalkeeper, Diogo Costa. He made a strong start to the game, denying Germany’s Leon Goretzka with a solid save just four minutes in. Costa continued to impress, producing a remarkable save from Nick Woltemade’s close-range shot, and moments later, he dived low to keep out another attempt from Goretzka.
The match saw Germany take the lead in the 48th minute when Florian Wirtz headed in from close range after a precise lobbed pass by Joshua Kimmich. However, Portugal quickly turned the tide, first equalizing through substitute Francisco Conceição in the 63rd minute before Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 40, scored his 137th international goal just five minutes later.
For Conceição, the victory was particularly meaningful, as his father, Sergio, last scored a hat trick in the memorable 2000 match when Portugal last defeated Germany. Portugal’s coach, Roberto Martinez, expressed pride in the team’s performance, stating, “We need to enjoy the victory. Our victory over Germany marked a significant milestone in a long journey. Our collective dedication was key to achieving remarkable tactical success. It felt like a true team triumph.
Despite Germany’s efforts to rally back, Portugal held firm. A notable moment was when substitute Karim Adeyemi unleashed a powerful shot that struck the outside of Costa’s right-hand post. Vitinha played a key role in helping Portugal win the match, just days after helping Paris Saint-Germain win the Champions League final at the same location. Marc-André ter Stegen, Germany’s goalie, produced several incredible saves in the last minutes to prevent Portugal from scoring any more goals.
Nick Woltemade made an incredible start for the German national team, showcasing his talent and potential on the international stage. Nuno Mendes and João Neves, Paris Saint-Germain’s explosive wing backs, eagerly represented Portugal while displaying their skills in a game with a lot of pressure. In an exciting occasion, Conceição made an early impression by skillfully dodging veteran defender Robin Gosens. He next struck the ball with accuracy, putting a powerful long-range effort into the far post that the goaltender could not stop. Mendes said, “It could have been more,” following the game.
For German captain Kimmich, who made his 100th appearance, the loss was disappointing. “The defeat is absolutely deserved,” he admitted. “We weren’t playing well enough in the first half. After going 1-0 up, nothing came of it in the second half.”
Spain and France are set to meet in the other semifinal in Stuttgart on Thursday, with the winner to face Portugal in the final on Sunday, where they aim to reclaim the title they won in 2019.
