Match Day 2: Germany vs Portugal

CR7 gets no change from the Germans!

In the other game from the “Group of Death”, Germany managed to edge out Portugal 1-0 through a beautifully headed goal from Mario Gomez in the 72nd minute. The construction of the goal in itself was simple, yet easy on the eye. Ozil finds Khedira on the right hand side with a beautifully threaded pass, and Khedira’s deflected cross is met by Mario Gomez, who loses his marker and places a beautiful header across Rui Patricio (in goal for Portugal) into the top right hand corner. The game in itself was an intense encounter and despite Germany winning this game, one senses that this group is far from over, because Portugal had their moments!

Stunning header from Mario Gomez!

The first half was a placid affair, with Germany, intent on just keep possession and Portugal intent on playing the long ball forward or trying to catch the Germans on the counter attack. A lack of central play maker in Portugal’s rank proved to be their undoing time and again, with creativity being expected from the wide players (Nani and Ronaldo).  How Portugal missed the likes of Rui Costa and Deco! Paulo Bento set his side up playing a 4-3-3 formation (while defending 4-5-1), and allowed Ronaldo the freedom to roam across the front three. Germany on the other hand set themselves up playing with the standard 4-2-3-1 formation, with the ever efficient Khedira and the imperious Schweinsteiger dictating play from midfield. Ozil provided Germany with the dynamism up front, with Mueller and Podolski not doing very much to trouble the Portuguese. Mario Gomez led the line ahead of the veteran and the much fancied Miroslav Klose.

Schweinsteiger dictating play from the middle!

The most infuriating element about Portugal’s play was how they constantly lost possession to the Germans, because their central defenders were intent on lumping the ball forward instead of playing it out from back. There was no pressing up front from Portugal’s attackers, which made it much easier for the Germans to play out from their defense. Portugal’s midfield trio of Veloso (playing the anchor role), Meireiles and Moutinho were playing too deep and left too much space between their midfield and attack, which the Germans exploited with aplomb, though they didn’t do much with that space as the Portuguese kept the door firmly shut. A lack of a quality striker up front for Portugal (sorry Helder Postiga, you just don’t cut it) also didn’t give them the option of a player who could hold up play and bring in the likes of Nani and Ronaldo into play. Frankly, too much was being asked of Ronaldo. The only positive for Portugal during the half was their left back Fabio Coentrao, who played like an absolute beast! Making surging runs into the German half and providing solid defensive cover at the back, he was probably Portugal’s best player on the pitch during the entire game. However, the chance of the half fell to Portugal from a corner where Pepe was left in inexplicable amounts of space in Germany’s penalty box. He tries to cleverly smash it into the top right hand corner, but unluckily for him,  it hits the cross bar and bounces down on the goal line.

Pepe’s shot crashes onto the cross bar and lands on the goal line! Unlucky!

The second half wasn’t very different. Though in this half, there was little more goal mouth action. Before the goal, the 65th minute provided us with a moment of real all round quality. Moutinho in the inside right channel, threads a beautiful pass into Ronaldo on the inside left channel,  and as he is about to pull the trigger, Jerome Boateng slides in to makes a sensational last ditch tackle to deny a clear cut scoring opportunity for Portugal. The goal eventually came for Mario Gomez, just when Joachim Low was about to take him off for Klose. Strange scenes from the German bench, just as Klose was ready to come on, Gomez scores and Klose is asked re take his place on the bench. Germany almost catch Portugal on the break five minutes later with devastating speed as Gomez narrowly misses out on connecting Muller low and hard cross into the box from the right.

Gomez celebrates after scoring the decisive goal!

The last 10 minutes however, is all Portugal as they finally show the urgency they’ve lacked all game, while pressing for an equalizer. They should have equalized in the 88th minute, when substitute striker Nelson Oliveira (in for the ineffectual Postiga) beautifully takes down a long ball in the inside left channel, and dashes on to the by line where he cuts it back through two defenders across the six yard box and lays the ball in for the on rushing Varela, who tries to dink it over the on-rushing Neur. However, Neur is really quick off his line and produces a fine save for the Germans. A moment of real quality all around, except for the finish. Another chance fell for Nani during injury time, though his first time shot is manfully blocked by Badstuber. Two things to note for Portugal: Oliveira should start up front and Moutinho needs to play higher up and fill in the role of the central play maker. This group is still too close to call!

Neur’s fine save!

 

 

P.S. The images are from The Guardian (Football section)! 🙂