Portugal and Germany face off in another huge Group F encounter at Euro 2020.
The Germans and the Portuguese were drawn alongside France and Hungary in a bonafide ‘group of death’, and both nations head into this game in need of a win.
Portugal left it late to beat Hungary, with two Cristiano Ronaldo goals helping them to a 3-0 win in Budapest. As for Germany, they fell 1-0 to world champions France in a spirited but toothless dsplay.
Germany are clearly in need of a result to get out of the group, but will fancy their chances of three points in their final group match against the Hungarians. As for Portugal, a defeat here would likely leave them needing to get something against the French in their last fixture to progress.
Date, kick-off time and venue
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Portugal vs Germany is scheduled for a 5pm BST kick-off on Saturday, June 19, 2021.
The match will be held at Allianz Arena in Munich.
Portugal vs Germany team news
Germany squad
Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno, Manuel Neuer, Kevin Trapp
Defenders: Matthias Ginter, Robin Gosens, Christian Gunter, Marcel Halstenberg, Mats Hummels, Lukas Klostermann, Robin Koch, Antonio Rudiger, Niklas Sule
Midfielders: Emre Can, Leon Goretzka, Ilkay Gundogan, Kai Havertz, Jonas Hofmann, Joshua Kimmich, Toni Kroos, Florian Neuhaus
Forwards: Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller, Jamal Musiala, Timo Werner, Leroy Sane, Kevin Kolland
Portugal squad
Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes, Rui Patrício, Rui Silva
Defenders: Diogo Dalot*, Nelson Semedo, Jose Fonte, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Nuno Mendes, Raphael Guerreiro
Midfielders: Danilo Pereira, Joao Palhinha, Ruben Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Moutinho, Renato Sanches, Sergio Oliveira, William Carvalho
Forwards: Pedro Goncalves, Andre Silva, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota, Goncalo Guedes, Joao Felix, Rafa Silva
Replaces Joao Cancelo, who tested positive for Covid
Match preview
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Portugal were actually level with Hungary approaching the final stages of Monday’s contest in Budapest, and it did appear that it would be a frustrating start to the section for the reigning champions.
However, Raphael Guerreiro made the breakthrough in the 84th minute of the contest before Cristiano Ronaldo came up with a late double – one of which was from the penalty spot – to make it a three-goal success for Portugal and ensure that he would become the all-time leading goalscorer in European Championship history.
Santos’s side will head into Saturday’s clash knowing that a win would book their spot in the last-16 stage of the competition, while they would confirm a position in the top two if they triumph and Hungary do not overcome France in Group F’s other contest on the same night.
A Selecao have a strong overall record in this competition, reaching the semi-finals in 1984, 2000 and 2012, while they were present in the final eight of Euro 1996 and Euro 2008. Portugal were also runners-up on home soil at Euro 2004 and are, of course, the holders, having beaten France 1-0 in the final of Euro 2016.
Santos’s team are now on a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions, but they have lost each of their last four international fixtures with Germany, including a 4-0 defeat when the two teams last locked horns at the 2014 World Cup.
Germany, meanwhile, will enter this key contest off the back of a 1-0 defeat to France on Tuesday, with an own goal from Mats Hummels deciding the contest in Munich.
In truth, it was a disappointing performance from Joachim Low’s side, who struggled to create opportunities, and it will be fascinating to see whether there are any changes for this clash with Portugal.
Portugal Form Guide (all competitions): D-W-D-W-W
Germany Form Guide (all competitions): W-L-D-W-L
Prediction
Portugal and Germany are two of the biggest nations at Euro 2020 and they should deliver a nail-bitter at the Allianz Arena. Germany have a point to prove following their opening-day defeat and they will want to take the game to the Portuguese.
Despite their recent struggles, we are tipping Germany to secure their first win of the tournament.
Prediction: Portugal 1-2 Germany
Betting tips
Germany to Win
Germany have won each of their last four encounters with Portugal, the most recent of which finishing 4-0 in the 2014 World Cup. Germany aren’t the same team they were back then but they do have the home advantage this weekend and while Portugal won 3-0 against Hungary, they conceded a number of opportunities in that game that a better team would have converted.
BTTS
Both teams have scored in three of the last six meetings between these two countries and Portugal and Germany have scored in all bar one of their last six international matches. Neither Germany nor Portugal looked very strong at the back in their first group game of the tournament and with Germany likely to take the game to their guests, both teams will have chances to score during the 90-minutes.
Over 2.5 Goals
Seeing as we have backed Germany to win and both teams to score, logically, we’re also backing over 2.5 goals to be scored, and here is why. Four of the last five meetings between Portugal and Germany have produced over 2.5 goals. Four of Portugal’s last five games have also seen at least three goals scored and the same can be said for three of Germany’s last six fixtures.
