CLOUD NEIN! FOR RONALDO
Germans ‘never had doubts’ as they fight back to pummel Portugal after Cristiano opener ....
GERMANY finally turned up to the Euro 2020 party to throw the ‘Group of Death’ wide open.
Joachim Low’s side needed a win after losing their opening game to France – and they turned on the style to condemn Portugal to a crushing defeat.
Portugal talisman Cristiano Ronaldo scored again – to take his tournament tally to three goals – and made another, but it was Germany who had the last laugh.
Germany’s win means Group F will go down to the final game on Wednesday, with all four teams still in with a chance of making it to the knockout stage, after France were surprisingly held by a resolute Hungary.
Low, who steps down as Germany coach after the tournament after 15 years in charge, said he never doubted his side, despite their opening defeat to the World Cup holders.
“We never had any doubts, even after losing the first match,” said Low (right). “We knew we could do better.
“After falling behind it was important that we showed great team spirit and we didn’t lose control.
“We were dynamic, energetic, created a lot of opportunities and had a great pace to our game. It was a very strong performance. It’s nice that everything is in our hands. Now we need to prove it again in our last game.
“The next one now is Hungary, which will be hard if you look at how they played against France.”
Portugal boss Fernando Santos shouldered the blame for defeat and said: “Germany were the better team. I take responsibility for that – the manager is to blame for the result.
“We will review the match and talk to the players, but whether we progress or not is up to us.
“France is a different match, the last one in the group stage, and everything is still in our own hands. But if you can’t keep possession and keep your opponent away from your box, you are going to have problems.”
After a glut of prosaic games, this was a handbrake-off, fullthrottle, end-to-end encounter, both sides playing with a swagger that made for easily the most entertaining match of the Euros so far.
A lack of creativity was Germany’s undoing in their defeat by France, w genuine chances created b side in the 1-0 loss.
That was addressed h Germany showed their en class. The star man was At Robin Gosens, who ma goals and scored himself as the game from left wing-b Gosens scored after five with an acrobatic finish, but th was correct out for offs
That s did not de Germans continue enterprisin but it was P
who struck first, with a majestic counter-attacking goal .
It came from a Germany corner, Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva picking up the loose ball and surging forwards, aided by Ilkay Gundogan’s slack tracking of his City team-mate.
Bernardo picked out Liverpool’s Diogo Jota, who controlled the ball superbly on his chest before squaring it to Ronaldo.
The Portugal icon had sprinted 92 metres in 14.2 seconds before being presented with the simplest of finishes for a goal breathtaking in its speed and execution.
But Germany, who dominated the first-half, despite finding themselves a goal behind, went ahead with two own-goals in the space of four minutes.
The first levelled matters, when Manchester City’s Ruben Dias turned the ball into his own net on 35 minutes. The second came four minutes later, Raphael Guerreiro suffering the same fate, and put Germany in front.
Five minutes after the restart, Gosens crossed for Kai Havertz to make it 3-1. Gosens scored himself on the hour, heading in from a Joshua Kimmich cross.
Portugal pulled a goal back, Jota turning the ball in from Ronaldo’s cut back, but it was Germany’s night as they hauled themselves firmly back into the frame.
As they always do.