Arena Lviv, Lviv, 09.06.2012
1-0 (0-0)
Gómez 73. / –
Germany’s first game in the “group of death” pitted them against Portugal, a team that had in recent years been a frequent adversary in major tournaments. The two countries had met at three previous Euro finals – in 1984 which produced a 0-0 stalemate, 2000 when a decaying German team was torn apart in Rotterdam, and 2008 when Joachim Löw’s resurgent side exacted some measure of revenge with a 3-2 quarter-final win in Basel. The sides had also met in the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006, when the Mannschaft – then under Jürgen Klinsmann – claimed the bronze medals with a conclusive 3-1 win over the Iberians.
In a tight and well-contested encounter in L’viv, Germany eked out a well-deserved 1-0 win, with striker Mario Gómez scoring the winner seventeen minutes from time.
Minute-by-minute Match Report »
Match Analysis & Player Ratings »
Germany: Neuer – Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm (c) – Khedira, Schweinsteiger – Müller (90.+3. L. Bender), Özil (87. Kroos), Podolski – Gómez (80. Klose)
Portugal: Rui Patrício – João Pereira, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Fábio Coentrão – Raul Meireles (80. Silvestre Varela), Miguel Veloso, João Moutinho – Nani, Hélder Postiga (70. Nelson Oliveira), Cristiano Ronaldo (c)
Referee: Stéphane Lannoy (France)
Assistants: Frédéric Cano, Michael Annonier (France)
Goal Assistants: Fredy Fautrel, Ruddy Buquet (France)
Fourth Official: Marcin Borski (Poland)
Yellow Cards: Badstuber 43., Boateng 69. / Hélder Postiga 13., Fábio Coentrão 60.
Red Cards: – / –
Attempts on Target: 4 / 7
Attempts off Target: 8 / 4
Corners: 2 / 11
Fouls Committed: 14 / 19
Attendance: 32,990