Germany beat Portugal 1-0 to win European U21 Championship

Germany have been crowned European U21 champions for a third time after Lukas Nmecha scored the only goal in Sunday’s final.

Stefan Kuntz’s side started the game slowly in Slovenia, with Tiago Tomas firing wide and Diogo Dalot having a shot blocked by Arminia Bielefeld defender Amos Pieper.

Florian Wirtz, who got both Germany’s goals in their 2-1 semifinal win over the Netherlands, then came agonisingly close when his deflected strike came off the bar. With Wirtz, Ridle Baku and Arne Maier all influential, Germany dominated from the 15th minute of the first half, with Nmecha seeing his dinked effort well saved by Portugal keeper Diogo Costa after being played in by the rampaging Baku.

Wolfsburg’s Baku – playing as an extremtly attaking right-back – then shot wide from distance before Hertha Berlin midfielder Maier saw his fierce hit from range clawed out of the top corner by Costa.

Germany were almost undone in first-half stoppage-time when Vitinha broke clear but he couldn’t get a shot away. Germany started well in the second half and got their reward just four minutes in when Baku played in Nmecha to score. The striker showed sharp footwork to shift the ball around Costa and prod the ball home from close range. Substitute Karim Adeyemi got only to be denied by Porto keeper Costa, while Nmecha’s powerful attempt from outside the area was tipped over the top. Adeyemi was thwarted by Costa once more but one goal was all Germany needed to win this competition for the second time in the last three editions.