EM 2021: Germany beats Portugal - and is getting closer to the round of 16

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Photo: Jan Huebner / imago images / Jan Huebner

The German national team has come one step closer to the round of 16 of the European Football Championship.

The DFB team celebrated a 4-2 (2-1) victory in the second group game against Portugal.

Cristiano Ronaldo gave Portugal the lead (15th minute), but two own goals by Portuguese defenders Rúben Dias (35th) and Raphaël Guerreiro (39th) turned the game in favor of the German team.

In the second half, Kai Havertz (51st) and Robin Gosens (60th), who were among the most conspicuous German players, met.

Diogo Jota scored the second goal for Portugal (67th).

National coach Joachim Löw's team is now second in Group F behind France (4 points) with three points. Portugal (3) and Hungary (1) follow.

With a win in the last group game against Hungary (June 23, 9 p.m., TV: ZDF), the German team would be in the round of 16.

Löw sent the same starting eleven onto the lawn of the Munich Arena that had started in the 1-0 defeat against France.

The German team started in an orderly fashion and did not allow themselves to be put under pressure by the Portuguese who were initially high.

The alleged opening goal by Robin Gosens did not count because of a previous offside position by Serge Gnabry (5th).

The German team repeatedly pushed dangerously into the Portuguese penalty area.

Portugal, also with the same starting XI as at the start, waited for counter opportunities - and took advantage of the first.

As a result of a German corner, Portugal quickly brought the ball to the top, attacker Diogo Jota crossed in front of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Cristiano Ronaldo pushed in for the lead (15th).

After falling behind, the DFB team continued to try to control the game with more possession.

An attack on the wing equalized: Joshua Kimmich crossed from the right far into the penalty area, Gosens brought the ball into the center and defender Rúben Dias steered it in a duel with Havertz to make it 1-1 over the line (35th).

Two own goals turn the game

Just four minutes later, Havertz was also involved in the next goal.

He steered a cross from Thomas Müller to the right post.

Kimmich picked up the ball, played it into the center and defender Raphaël Guerreiro missed the Portuguese second own goal (39th) - Germany led 2-1 without a German player having scored.

That changed in the second half.

After a cross from Gosens, Havertz pushed in to make it 3-1 (51st).

And Gosens also struck: A cross from Kimmich from the right side headed the 26-year-old to make it 4-1 into the goal (60th).

It was changed two minutes later.

But Portugal, which seemed shocked by the four goals conceded, scored again in the right goal.

After a free kick, Ronaldo put the ball in front of the baseline and Diogo Jota scored the 2: 4 (67th).

The Germans could have lost even more of their lead, but Renato Sanches hit the post with a long-range shot (79th).

However, Portugal could no longer start a final offensive.

Shortly before the end, the substitute Leon Goretzka hit the bar (83rd), it remained with the 4-2 victory of the DFB team.

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