Germany win against Portugal in Quarter Finals
Germany beat Portugal 3-2 in Basle to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2008.
This Germany line-up does not compare with its more renowned ancestors but the tradition of tenacity has been inherited. While Portugal, as expected, had more verve, it is their opponents who are bound for a semi-final with either Turkey or, more likely, Croatia. The latter outclassed Germany in the group phase but Joachim Löw's team cannot be doomladen about the rematch.
A capacity for punishing weaknesses in the opposition can always make this team potent. Bastian Schweinsteiger, after scoring on his own account, twice delivered right-footed set-pieces from the left that led to goals. Portugal's vulnerability in that area is no secret, particularly since the side cannot expect the situation to be resolved by Ricardo, a goalkeeper who is a shot-stopper rather than cross-catcher.
Bastian Schweinsteiger scores Germany's opening goal against Portugal.
Germany's assistant coach Hans-Dieter Flick had reportedly made a bet with some members of the squad that they would score from a dead-ball situation here despite the side's inability to do so of late. The key goal was Germany's third, which dismayed a Portugal side who will have thought they were on the verge of tying the game at 2-2.
Schweinsteiger swept the ball over and Michael Ballack headed into the net after 62 minutes. He did so after pushing Paulo Ferreira in the back to give himself a little more space. It is the sort of trick attempted at virtually all free-kicks of this sort, but his victim in Basle just happened to be a Chelsea team-mate.
