Cristiano Ronaldo played the starring role as Portugal overcame Germany with a 2-1 victory to reach the UEFA Nations League final. His winning goal in the 68th minute was enough to secure the win, ending Germany`s run of seven games unbeaten in this semi-final match on Wednesday. This strike marked Ronaldo`s sixth goal in his last ten international appearances. He combined with Francisco Conceicao for two goals within five minutes, overturning Florian Wirtz`s earlier goal for Germany.
Germany controlled the first half but failed to convert their dominance into a goal. The introduction of Francisco Conceicao for Trincao ignited Portugal, enabling them to turn the game around. In the second half, Portugal managed 13 shots, five of which were on target, while limiting Germany to just one shot – Wirtz`s goal. This performance was a display of strong game management from coach Roberto Martinez, securing Portugal`s first win against Germany since 2000 in a significant moment.
German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made crucial saves, including a double stop against Diogo Jota and Conceicao in the 89th minute, to keep Germany`s hopes alive, but it wasn`t enough as their attack struggled. Despite improvements under Julian Nagelsmann, this result highlights areas for consideration, particularly regarding Germany`s inability to respond to Portugal`s tactical adjustments during the match.
Portugal will now compete for their first major trophy since winning the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019. They will face the winner of the France and Spain semi-final in the final on Sunday at the Allianz Arena in Germany. Under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, who took charge in 2023 after a disappointing World Cup showing in Qatar, the Portuguese squad appears to be heading in a positive direction as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
