Portugal 5-0 Germany
In a comprehensively overwhelming performance, the Portugal U21 team absolutely smashed Germany tonight at the Andruv Stadium.
After consecutive subpar displays during the group stage, Portugal's most promising generation since the days of Rui Costa and Luís Figo showed their true quality with Bernardo Silva, William Carvalho, Ricardo, and Sérgio Oliveira all putting in masterful performances as Portugal storm into the Euro U21 Championship final.
Rui Jorge made only one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Sweden. There was some confusion regarding Tiago Illori's presence in the starting lineup, and in the end Tobias Figueiredo stepped in for the Bordeaux defender, who did not feel confident enough to play following his recovery from a leg injury. Iuri Medeiros and Gonçalo Paciēncia found themselves on the bench despite positive substitute cameos during the group stage.
First-half masterclass
Portugal began the first half far more positively than they did in any of their group stage matches with plenty of pressure being applied early. The synchronization in midfield that had been conspicuously absent finally began to click with William Carvalho pulling the strings from his position just ahead of the back four.
And what a half it turned out to be. Portugal were in the mood and tested the Germans with teasing throughballs while being content to take some risks by throwing bodies forward. The Portuguese finally dialed in on the German goal, and only the post could save Die Nationalelf when Sérgio Oliviera got on the end of Ricardo's simple ball across the top of the penalty area in the 14th minute.
Bernardo Silva, who was having a Golden Ball winner tournament already despite Portugal's poor team performances, tormented the Germans throughout the first 45 minutes and it was no surprise when it was he that broke the deadlock in only the 25th minute. A lovely throughball from William Carvalho, who was himself having an excellent match, found Silva with just enough space for the diminutive Monaco playmaker to gracefully flick the ball wide to Ivan Cavaleiro. The Deportivo striker turned and slipped the ball through two defenders back to Silva who lifted the back of the net off the ground with a thumping finish past Ter Stegen at his near post.
Seleção smell blood
But Portugal were ravenous and continued to press the Germans back, and their unrelenting pressure paid off again in the 33rd minute. Paulo Oliveira nodded a Bernardo Silva corner down into the path of Ricardo, who could not help but sweep the ball into the back of the net for Portugal's second on the night.
The second goal awakened Germany, and they began to cause Portugal problems with Amin Younes the protagonist of their efforts. José Sá was called into action in the 37th minute when Younes fired in a shot at the near post. The rebound fell to Nico Schulz who blasted his shot well over the bar with the goal gaping. Sá added another spectacular save to his tournament repertoire after Younes sent in a swerving shot that was headed for the top corner in the 44th minute.
But it would be Portugal who had the last laugh of the opening 45 minutes. In their determination to score, the Germans left far too much space at the back and Portugal countered brilliantly with the ball reaching Pereira on the left, who sent an excellent cross into the box for João Mário, allowing the Sporting midfielder enough time to simply lay the ball off to Cavaleiro, and the Deportivo man had only one thought on his mind when he dispatched a wonderful finish into the top right corner.
Cruise control
In a first half that belied Portugal's group stage performances, it would have been easy to think that the second half might not be so grand. Instead, Portugal were 4-0 up less than a minute into the half through João Mário. After great work from Bernardo Silva, the Sporting midfielder latched onto a simple lay off from Ricardo and finished past Ter Stegen via a healthy deflection.
Rui Jorge sent on Ricardo Horta for Bernardo Silva in the 51st minute having already put on Rafa Silva after the halftime break, and the two substitutes combined well in a move that should have led to another goal. Ricardo Horta beat his marker down the left and crossed for Rafa, but the Braga winger fluffed his lines when it seemed easier for him to at least test Andre Ter Stegen.
Germany were in damage control mode, and Portugal did not need to press their advantage, but still they threatened to score, and a fifth goal inevitably came in the 72nd minute after a mazy run by Rafa Silva. When the Braga winger was finally brought down in the box, the German defence switched off momentarily as they thought a penalty might be called. When the ball rolled out to João Cancelo on the left wing, his cross found Ricardo Horta, and the young Malaga playmaker deftly flicked the ball past Ter Stegen with the outside of his heel.
The night went from bad to worse for Germany as substitute Leonardo Bittencourt lashed out at João Cancelo and received his second yellow of the evening. Afterwards the game petered out as a contest, but there were many talking points that Seleção fans the world over will no doubt be discussing in the build-up to the Euro U21 final.
Imperious Wiliam
William Carvalho's performance at the center of Portugal's formation left little doubt that he must be the rock upon which the senior squad should build its church. With an overpowering combination of strength and composure, and an unparalleled ability to see the field and read the flow of the game, William picked the Germans to shreds from start to finish.
But there were brilliant performances all around, and if any individual struggled it was surely masked by a collective team exhibition that surely makes Portugal the favorite to win it all. If Rui Jorge has any problem ahead of him, it might be who to select from a stable of brilliant perforrmers who have peaked at the right moment.
The Seleção will play the winner of the Sweden v Denmark match for the U21 European Championship title on Tuesday night in Prague.
Força!
Portugal: Jose Sa, Esgaio, Paulo Oliveira, Tobias Figueiredo, Raphael Guerreiro (Joao Cancelo, 64'), William Carvalho, Sergio Oliveira, Joao Mário, Bernardo Silva (Ricardo Horta, 50') Ricardo Pereira, Ivan Cavaleiro (Ricardo Horta, 46')
Germany: Marc Andre Ter-Stegen, Julian Korb (Felix Klaus, 87'), Christian Günter, Matthias Ginter, Dominique Heintz, Nico Schulz (Leonardo Bittencourt, 50'), Johannes Geis (Maximillian Meyer, 46'), Emre Can, Joshua Kimmich, Amin Younes, Kevin Volland
by Nathan Motz
