The knockout round had started and first up was the quarter final clash between Portugal and Germany. The former being the inform team of the tournament despite loosing their last group game to co-hosts Switzerland but coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is set to take over at Chelsea after the Euros, had rested all his key players in that game. The later on the other hand left it last till a 1-0 victory over the other co hosts, Austria, in their last group game after an embarrassing 2-0 loss by the hands of Croatia.
Manager Jorgen Low was suspended for this one after he received an additional one match ban after being sent to the stands in the last match. Bastian Schweinsteiger was back after serving his suspension following the red card he received during the 2-0 defeat to Croatia.
Jose Bosingwa`s cross in the opening minutes found the head of skipper Nuno Gomes but the 31 year old headed it across the face of goal instead of inside it.
Thomas Hitzlsperger had a good shot from very wide on the right. A short throw in found the VfB Stuttgart man and he shot instantly only for it to hit the side netting. Good shot none the less, lots of power on it.
After running a good 30-40 meters Deco played a brilliant through ball to Simao on the right who beat the offside trap. But the Atletico Madrid man went for goal and allowed the german keeper to pull off an easy save. There were 2 other Portugese players waiting in the area for him to square the ball to them.
Bosingwa, who will follow Scolari to Chelsea this summer, was having a wonderful game going forward. He picked out another beautiful cross, this time for Joao Moutinho. The Sporting Lisbon midfilder was in two minds weather to head it or kick it 6 years away from goal. Just when it looked like he was going to use his head, he changed his mind and the ball hit his knee before going above the bar. A brilliant chance missed.
And their opponents were going to make them pay for the missed chance just two minutes later. Podolski made a wonderful run down the left getting the better of Bosingwa, before playing a neat grounded cross in this time beating Pepe. Schweinsteiger, who had made an amazing run from the half line, slid to put this one at the back of the net and score a beautiful goal for Germany.
And just 4 minutes later the scoreline read Germany 2-0 Portugal. Schweinsteiger`s free kick into the box was headed in by Klose who ran past all the others to make contact. Trouble for Scolari, Joy for the suspended Low.
Cristiano Ronaldo plays a little one two with Simao before trying to find Gomes but the final ball is off the mark and cleared away for a conner by Mertesacker. Everything seemes to be going right for the Germans, from defense to attack.
But Portugal finally pulled a goal back just before the break. Ronaldo ran down the left flank before shooting straight at Lehmann. The former Arsenal man could not hold onto it and Nuno Gomes went in the opposite direction to collect the ball and slot it home.
That goal set the match for a great second half. Definatly the most entertaining first 45 so far in the tournament, and it is the only time when we have seen 3 goals in it. With the score at 2-1, it was anybody`s game in the second period of the match.
Hitzlsperger showed some lovely control to bring down Klose's pass from the left on the edge of the Portugal box, before curling a left footed effort well over the bar. This really was a very high tempo match.
In the 55th minute Portugal had an amazing chance. A conner from Simao Sabrosa was going for a goal kick near the far post but headed back by Deco straight to Pepe but the Real Madrid center half sent the ball over the bar.
And just when you think Portugal are getting closer and closer to scoring, Germany make them pay for it. Schweinsteiger`s free kick into the box from the far left hand side, was headed in by Michael Ballack for his second of the tournament. The captain leapt above club mate Paulo Ferriera and almost certainly headed Germany into the semis. Seems like de ja vu?? Well that is beacuase this was almost a carbon copy of the second goal of the match which was scored by Klose.
Deco played a square ball to Petit who shot from almost 28-30 yards and got the ball on target. But jens Lehmann did well to get down at catch the shot. Luiz Felipe Scolari and his men were certainly in no mood to give up just as yet.
Podolski could have made it 4-1 when a conner was cleared and it fell to his feet and his shot form long distance did not miss by much.
With 3 minutes to go the chasers were throwing everything forward and the leaders everything back. And their efforts were rewarded when a stunning inch perfect cross from Nani on the left, who came on for Nuno Gomes, was headed in from close range by Helder Postiga, who was also a second half substitute replacing Petit.
3-2 with 5 minutes to go and the game for set for an end that everybody (excpet for maybe Portugal fans) really hoped for. The clocked had never ticked slower for the Germans and had never moved faster for the Portugese.
But despite a wonderful end, there were no more goals. Germany, who have not made it past the group stage since they won it in 1996 have made the semis, and Portugal, who were one of the brightest teams in the Euro were out. Luiz Felipe Scolari`s 5 and a half year reign was over and now the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco and Ricardo Queresma could look forward to solving the mystery of their club futures.
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