Portugal 0-4 Germany
It was a rematch of last year's U21 Euro semifinals, and Germany exacted their revenge with a 4-0 victory over Portugal at the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha tonight in the Olympic quarterfinals.
In a match as lopsided as the scoreline indicates, goals from Serge Gnabry, Matthias Ginter, Davie Selke, and Max Meyer extinguished the hopes of Rui Jorge's young and inexperienced side.
Rui Jorge made only one change to the favored eleven that defeated Argentina and Honduras in the group stage, but it was a very unexpected change. Top scorer Gonçalo Paciencia was left on the bench with Sporting's Carlos Mané taking his place. Matthias Ginter and Davie Selke were the only additions to the side that beat Fiji 10-0 in Belo Horizonte on Wednesday.
Portugal started well in what turned out to be an action packed first half. Salvador Agra burst free down the right flank and delivered a cross into the box that Mané flicked towards goal, but Timo Horn made a brilliant save to deny the Sporting winger.
Germany immediately took control of the match, and it became apparent that Rui Jorge's tactics were insufficient to deal with the threat posed by Germany's attacking players. Gnabry, who has been excellent in these Olympics, spurned two presentable chances to score just minutes apart. Germany was enjoying free reign down both flanks with Esgaio being forced to tuck inside too far to prevent crosses from coming in down the right while Fonseca showed his youth in being beaten multiple times down the left.
Davie Selke wasted the first of several opportunities in the 14th when Toljan broke free down the right flank and delivered a back pass that should have led to a shot on target, but Selke scuffed the shot wide left. Varela made a brilliant stop to deny a Julian Brandt shot from the left side of the penalty area in the 26th minute after a neat passing exchange in midfield involving Max Meyer.
Germany finally had the ball in the net in the 31st minute only for Selke's finish to be ruled offside. Varela made yet another crucial intervention minutes later when Selke cut inside Edgar Ie and shot towards the far post.
It was one-way traffic as Portugal's attempts to counter were degraded by Mané's poorly timed runs and almost no central midfield support. Jorge was forced into a first half substitution with Oliveira making way for Chico Ramos in the 36th minute.
The move initially paid off as Portugal began to grow in possession. In the 40th minute, Portugal built through the center and finally got the ball to Bruno Fernandes on the right flank. The Udinese midfielder's cut back was perfect for Ramos, but his shot was deflected just wide for a corner, Portugal's best chance since Manés 1st minute shot.
But the half ended on a sour note when Max Meyer and Julian Brandt combined to eventually release Gnabry through the left side of the penalty area after Fonseca was lured centrally. The German winger's far post effort had too much pace for Varela, and Portugal went into halftime down 0-1 although it could have been far worse to be fair.
Portugal tried to get back on level terms and Fonseca's cross was just over Fernandes' head in the 52nd minute. Germany resumed control however, and Edgar Ie cleared a Selke shot off the line after a great ball from Julian Brandt.
Gnabry was loose again minutes later and Varela intervened with a kick save to deny his near post effort. But on the ensuing corner, Portugal were caught napping and Matthias Ginter rose to head home Germany's second goal of the match.
Gonçalo Paciência came on immediately for Andre Martins, and Chico Ramos was forced off shortly after with what appeared to be a slight knock. Ricardo Esgaio finally burst free down the left in the 72nd minute, but his excellent cross eluded both Paciencia and Mané.
Germany added to their lead shortly after with Selke finally able to apply the finish after several missed chances throughout the match. In a move that typified the German tactical superiority on the day, Selke found himself all alone in the left side of the penalty area, receiving the ball after steady build-up through the center. Selke was left with a routine far post finish that he perfectly executed.
Mané was 1-on-1 with the keeper in the 86th minute, but he hesitated and tried to surpass Horn but was denied. Germany countered straight down the pitch and Julian Brandt's excellent square ball was finished with aplomb by Max Meyer to make it 4-0.
Gnabry, Horn, Ginter, Meyer, and others were in the same U21 squad that was defeated by Portugal 5-0 in last summer's Euro U21 tournament. The difference was that this time Portugal were bereft of Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva, João Cancelo, Andre Silva, Diogo Jota, and many other prodigious talents all withheld from this tournament by their respective club sides.
Germany's superior talent and tactical intelligence were clear from the onset, but despite their departure from the Olympic games, Portugal can be proud that they won Group D and gained valuable experience in an international tournament. Rui Jorge's task was always going to be unenviable in a tournament so close to the start of the club season.
by Nathan Motz
