The German reaction was not long in coming. Four days after starting the competition with a defeat against the France team (1-0), the Mannschaft pulled out its claws this Saturday in Munich, atomizing Portugal (4-2), reigning European champion. Thanks to this victory, Joachim Löw's men carry out the great operation of the day. They are now second in the group, one point behind the Blues, and pass Portugal on the goal average. "It's the kind of game where we have to show what we have in us," Joshua Kimmich announced. The Bavarian midfielder has combined action with word by turning into a leader in a match that the Germans had to win at all costs so as not to end up at the foot of the wall for qualification.
Compared to Tuesday's game against the Blues, it was night and day. Especially in front of where they never stopped hurting Ruben Dias and his partners. However, it was the Portuguese who opened the scoring by Cristiano Ronaldo, well served by Diogo Jota on a counter orchestrated by the former Monegasque Bernardo Silva (1-0, 15th). But the top scorer in the history of the Euro, and five-time Ballon d'Or, was not enough to calm the anger of his opponents, boosted to the block by the equalization of Kai Havertz on a service from Robin Gosens ( 1-1, 35e).
From then on, the Portuguese were seized with vertigo, like Raphaël Guerreiro. On a strong cross from Kimmich, the former Lorient could not do without a bad reflex by pushing the ball into his nets (1-2, 39th). The waves followed on the cage of poor Rui Patricio who managed to get out several important stops in the first period (10th, 18th, 44th, 45 + 2nd). But he could not do anything, at the start of the second half, when Havertz, forgotten by Ruben Dias, took charge of deceiving him a second time (1-3, 51st), then on the head at close range from the excellent Gosens (1-4, 60th). History will remember that Diogo Jota reduced the mark on a pass from the indefatigable Ronaldo (2-4, 67th). A trifle as Germany hit hard by signing one of the best matches of this start of Euro, before challenging Hungary. For Portugal,France is emerging. A shock against the backdrop of revenge of the final of Euro 2016 which promises to be already exciting, and electric, in view of the suspense now relaunched at the head of the group.
