Euro 2008: Quarterfinals - (19/06/08)Portugal 2-3 Germany

S-C-H-W-I-E-Ning all the way!!!

The quarter finals of Portugal versus have lived up to its hype. I mean what a cool match!! The match had everyone biting their nails to the finish. But in the end, the more talented team won.

The match between the titans was on a patched up pitch which had been ruined by rain in the earlier group match of Turkey and Czech. But the Germans weren’t complaining, and the Portuguese didn’t want to look like cry babies. So they played on the less than standard pitch. The Match though was better than the pitch.

The German coach Loew was suspended and could not manage the team due to a clash with Austrian coach in a group match. In this case, it seemed that the Portuguese would win as they had ‘Big Phil’ with them, and the Germans had to settle with their coach.

Both teams chose their strongest squads for the knockout match. The match started dot on 0015 IST(Indian Standard Time) and the Germans kicked off to general applause. At the start, the match was boring and both teams did not gain any advantage. But a Simao right side cross to Bosingwa which struck him on the thigh to fly just above the bar awoke the fans and the players.

Then Polish born Podolski put up a burst of speed on the left wing after a one –two with Lahm which stunned the Portuguese defence and ground crossed to the centre of the penalty box. Schweinsteiger did just enough to evade Pepe and slip forward to pop the ball into the goal, just past alert Ricardo to give Germany the lead in the 22nd minute.

That awoke Scholari and the Portuguese who started attacking incessantly. But they suffered a blow as playmaker Joao Moutinho received a knock on the ankles and had to be replaced by untried Mereiles. That started the decline as hero Schweinsteiger took a freekick and chipped the ball over the wall easily. Miroslav Klose, who was lurking near the GK’s left post leapt to head the ball past Ricardo though the Real Betis Gk got a hand onto it. This gave the Germans the confidence and many predicted the game was lost. But it was far from over. It was just the start.

Cristiano Ronaldo received a cross from Deco off the right wing and the winger sprinted across the left and tried to put it past Lehmann but he pushed it away. But veteran and skipper Nuno Gomes doubled down and kicked the ball into open goal, though a defender got a leg to it. Thus Gomes brought Portugal back in the game in the 40’.

But the drama was far from over. The best was yet to come. Both teams tried to gain advantage over the other, but to no avail.

In 61’ , an identical freekick was presented to Germany and Schweinsteiger again took the freekick. A carbon copy of the second German goal, Michael Ballack after shoving Chelsea team mate Paolo Fereirra headed the ball again into the goal for Germany to take the lead 3-1.

Gomes was removed and Nani was brought in in a surprise move in the 67’. Postiga too was brought in. From that time onwards, desperate shots from no where by the Portuguese Deco, Ronaldo, Petit, Postiga, Bosingwa and Simao were uncommon.

But resurgence in Portuguese hopes took place in the 88’. Nani tricked three defenders by doubling down the left wing and desperately crossed looking for Ronaldo, but instead found Postiga who clinically put it past Lehmann for a 2nd Portuguese goal. But they could not capitalise on that opening as a deserving Germany booked their place in the semis. The Portuguese paid their tributes to Phil Scholari, who was leaving to manage Chelsea.

Ronaldo’s future was undecided after he played selfishly. Opting to try on goal, rather than pass the ball to his team mates. Though, all EPL fans want him to go to Real Madrid (including us).

Congrats Germany!!

Next fixture: Croatia versus Turkey

Highlights compiled by blizzard!!

Bastian Schweinsteiger, 22nd minute, 0-1



Miroslav Klose, 26th minute, 0-2



Nuno Gomes, 40th minute, 1-2



Michael Ballack, 62nd minute, 1-3

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Helder Postiga, 87th minute, 2-3