Rowdie: Mathematical football prediction and betting tips

Portugal vs Germany (2-4): Match Summary: Goals Galore!

Team News

Both sides were unchanged after their respective opening games. Understandably so, after the powerful finish against [team 18732], Santos decided to keep the momentum going. However, for large parts of the game against Hungary, the defending champions looked bang average. [player 24429] and [player 61186] continued in holding midfield with the four talented attackers ahead.

[team 18660] were surprisingly unchanged. Their performances against [team 18647] in front of their home fans was abysmal. The back three systems didn’t work against France but [coach 896295] stuck with it for another game. Also, despite the lack of attacking threat from the last game, the front three kept their places. [player 30372], who scored the only goal against France as he cleared the ball into his own net also stayed in the heart of their defence.

First-Half

Germany started the game much better than the last one. After embarrassing their fans in Munich against France, there was a clear sense of redemption in the way they started.

The pressing had some intent to it and the quick transitional attacks were unsettling [team 18701]. After seeing those efforts in the opening stages, the fans also got behind their side and Portugal were not able to get out of their defensive third. A counterattack was the only option for Portugal but Germany’s ball retention was excellent.

In the 15th minute, Germany won a corner as the pressure was constant. However, what followed was mind-blowing. The corner was cleared at the near post by [player 580]. The ball found its way to [player 96353] who was driving into the German half. [player 159917] was at the far side with Ronaldo making a solid run down the middle. Silva played it to Jota who squared it to Ronaldo whose desire to get into the area was sensational. That goal meant he is now two goals away from equalling Ali Daei’s all-time men’s international goal record.

That goal was against the run of play, but the sharpness of the movement and passing was sublime. Out of nowhere, Germany were a goal behind after battering Portugal since the opening whistle.

Despite the goal, the flow of the game didn’t change. Germany were still bossing it and Portugal were all over the place. [player 30289] and [player 4842] were playing through Portugal’s midfield quite simply as the Portuguese’s back four were unprotected. It was looking just a matter of time before Germany would score.

Both the German wing-backs were in acres of space as Havertz and [player 30286] were occupying the half-spaces. It finally cost Portugal as Germany got their goal through an own goal from [player 162536]. Gosens miss-hit his volley and it became a cross that was poorly defended by City’s player of the season.

Four minutes later, Germany deservedly got the lead as another own goal, this time from [player 32397] meant Germany went into the half time leading and playing some outstanding football.

Second-Half

[coach 896314] was clearly not happy with his side’s display. Under Santos, Portugal play a defensive system and hit teams on the break. They did execute the latter against Germany but from a defensive perspective, it was shambolic.

To add some robustness into the midfield, Santos made a surprising decision to take off Silva and introduce [player 32387] into the game.

The start to the second half was better by the losing side as they refused to provide any space to Kroos who was having a wonderful game. The Portugal pressure didn’t last for long as Germany began to gain control again.

Santos didn’t solve the wing-back problem that Germany were giving as the goals followed. Gosens who was having a positive game provided the assist to [player 32612] who tapped it in. It was another incisive German move as the fans were enjoying the performance.

Nine minutes later, they scored again. This time it was the man of the match, [player 25242] who headed the ball in to convert a well-executed cross by his wing-back partner, [player 32362].

Santos is one of the most tactical coaches who is an expert in finding the weakness in the opposition and also stopping from doing what they are good at. However, it’s hard to understand why he didn’t do something to stop Germany’s threat from wide areas which was obviously troubling Portugal’s defensive shape. [player 184934] and Dias, who had tremendous seasons at club level looked as weak as they have looked in a long time. Ronaldo barely received any proper service apart from the electric counterattack. They will have to find a way to provide him with effective service otherwise they will struggle to score.

Fixture Details: [fixture 11984431]

Author: Devashish Akolekar

A superb game to watch as Germany thrashed Portugal at the Allianz Arena.

Subscribe our newsletter

P