Portugal staged a dramatic second-half comeback to defeat Germany 2-1, securing their place in the final against either Spain or France. The match, delayed by 10 minutes due to a hailstorm that left the pitch speckled with ice, delivered high intensity and pivotal moments, with Cristiano Ronaldo proving decisive in ending Portugal’s 25-year drought against their German rivals.
The first half saw Germany dominate possession and create the better chances, despite the challenging conditions. Portugal’s goalkeeper Diogo Costa was kept busy, making a point-blank save to deny debutant Nick Woltemade and turning away a low drive from Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka. Portugal, led by a relentless Ronaldo, showed flashes of danger, with Pedro Neto’s early surge down the left forcing a sharp save from Marc-André ter Stegen. However, the scoreline remained level at the break, with both sides struggling to find a clinical edge.
Germany broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half when Florian Wirtz, the highly coveted Bayer Leverkusen star, rose to meet a precise cross and headed past Costa to ignite the home crowd. The goal seemed to set Germany on course for the final, but Portugal’s manager Roberto Martínez had other ideas. His substitutions proved game-changing, with Francisco Conceição, son of former Portugal star Sérgio Conceição, entering the fray and altering the match’s complexion.
In the 56th minute, Conceição picked up the ball on the right, glided past Robin Gosens with ease, and unleashed a swerving 25-yard strike that rocketed into the far corner, leaving ter Stegen helpless. The equalizer shifted momentum, and just five minutes later, Portugal struck again. Nuno Mendes, marauding down the left, delivered a pinpoint square pass to Ronaldo, who tapped into an open net for his 137th international goal, extending his own world record. The Allianz Arena fell silent as Ronaldo celebrated, having finally broken his personal losing streak against Germany after five previous defeats.
Germany pushed for an equalizer, with substitute Karim Adeyemi striking the post from a tight angle, but Portugal’s defense held firm. Ter Stegen made a stunning double save in the dying moments to deny Diogo Jota and Conceição, but Germany’s lack of cohesion and pressing intensity, as lamented by coach Julian Nagelsmann, cost them dearly. Nagelsmann pointed to a lack of “bite” out of possession and poor decision-making, despite the absence of key players like Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rüdiger, and Kai Havertz.
For Portugal, the victory marked their first win over Germany since Euro 2000, when Sérgio Conceição’s hat-trick secured a 3-0 triumph. Ronaldo, at 40, continues to defy time, with his goal not only clinching the match but also reinforcing his legacy as Portugal’s talisman. Nuno Mendes earned plaudits for his tireless performance, while Conceição’s long-range stunner earned him the player-of-the-match award.
The match was not without controversy, as tempers flared late on with scuffles involving Wirtz, Bernardo Silva, Niclas Füllkrug, and Bruno Fernandes, hinting at brewing Premier League rivalries. Portugal, now unbeaten in six of their last nine Nations League matches, advance to the final on June 8, where they aim to reclaim the title they won in 2019. Germany, meanwhile, will face the loser of the Spain-France semifinal in the third-place playoff, left to reflect on a missed opportunity on home soil.