Portugal 2-4 Germany: Slick Germans stun holders

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring but from then on it was pretty much one-way traffic as Germany, inspired by Robin Gosens, stunned the holders.

Germany recovered from a goal down to lay down a real marker at UEFA EURO 2020, putting four past holders Portugal to leave Group F on a knife-edge going into Wednesday's section finale.

ermany went on the attack from the off in Munich, thriving on the vibrancy offered by their wing-backs. The man on the left, Robin Gosens, even found the net but his well-taken finish was ruled out for offside. Back they came, wave after wave, but Portugal repelled them before the sucker punch: Cristiano Ronaldo starting and finishing a thrilling counterattack.

Sealed with a kiss: Gosens after his header
 
 Die Mannschaft picked themselves off the canvas, dusted themselves down and resumed the barrage. The pressure told with two   own goals in the space of five minutes late in the first half, with Rúben Dias and Raphaël Guerreiro inadvertently beating Rui   Patrício. Portugal were stunned, unable to muster a response; and it got a lot worse before it got better.

 By the hour mark it was 4-1 and the holders were out on their feet. Kai Havertz tapped in before the brilliant Gosens headed in a   cross from Joshua Kimmich. Joachim Löw rang the changes, with half an eye on Wednesday, and Portugal improved, pulling one   back through Diogo Jota. Renato Sanches rattled the post too with a stunning strike but the damage was done.


Suman Baz

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