Germany’s hopes of reaching the Nations League final were dashed on Wednesday evening, as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Portugal in Munich. The Portuguese, meanwhile, secured their place in the final.
The match began with both teams looking to take the initiative, with Germany enjoying periods of possession but struggling to create clear-cut chances. Portugal, on the other hand, remained scoreless at the break, despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s near-miss in the seventh minute, which came after a Pedro Neto pass.
The game’s turning point came in the 48th minute, when Germany’s Florian Wirtz headed in a cross to put his team ahead. However, Portugal’s response was swift, with Francisco Conceicao, who had entered the game just a few minutes earlier, equalizing with a precise left-footed shot in the 63rd minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo then sealed the win for Portugal, scoring the decisive goal in the 68th minute with a shot that found the empty net. Germany’s efforts to turn the match around were ultimately in vain, as Ter Stegen made a crucial save to deny Bruno Fernandes in the 71st minute, temporarily preserving his team’s hopes of a comeback. Substitutes Niclas Füllkrug, Serge Gnabry and Karim Adeyemi were unable to make a decisive impact, as Germany’s attacking endeavors ultimately came to nothing.