Germany vs Portugal Preview and Live Score: Euro 2008

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If you are interested to get the online live score and updates of the Germany vs Portugal first quarter final match of Euro 2008 then visit the following link:
Germany vs Portugal Live Score and Updates

Germany and Portugal will face each other in the first semi final of Euro 2008 on 19 June (tomorrow). With this match, the tournament progresses to the knock out stage. From now on the losing side of each of the matches will be eliminated from the tournament, while the winning side will progress to the next stage. Germany vs Portugal first quarter final match will take place at the St. Jakob-Park, Basel in Switzerland. Both Germany and Portugal are two of the football powerhouses and both the sides are favorite to win the Euro 2008 title.

Match: Germany vs Portugal, First Quarter Final, Euro 2008

Date: 19 June 2008, Thursday

Venue: St. Jakob-Park, Basel in Switzerland

Germany vs Portugal: Road to Quarter Final

Germany started the tournament defeating Poland 2-0 in Group B in style. However, they got stuck in the second match being lost to an inspired Croatia team 2-1. With that defeat, Germany was left on the verge of elimination, and draw was required for Germany in the last match against Austria in order to progress to the last eight of the tournament. Germany clinched the victory thanks to a superb Michael Ballack free kick against Austria. So, Germany reached the quarter final as the group B runner up.

Portugal also got off to a good start with a 2-0 victory against Turkey in group A. Portugal ensured their place in the quarter final after defeating Czech Republic 3-1 in the second match. Naturally, the last match against Switzerland became a mere formality against a spirited Switzerland team who were determined to leave the tournament with something to cherish for a long time and they got their first Euro victory against group leader Portugal who drafted a second-string squad in the last match giving rest some of its regular members. Even with this defeat, Portugal came into the last eight as the winner of group A.

Germany vs Portugal: Head to Head and Recent Form

Germany and Portugal met each other last time in the third/fourth place deciding match of 2006 FIFA World Cup, where Germany defeated Portugal 3-1 to win the third place of the world cup. The two sides faced each other five times so far, with Germany winning twice and Portugal winning once, while two matches finishing in draw.

Germany and Portugal faced each other in European championship last time was in Euro 2000, were Portugal won by 3-0. Now, the two sides are facing each other once again tomorrow. Let us have a look at the recent form of Germany and Portugal.

Germany won five out of their last seven matches in all competitions, besides a defeat and a draw. However, Portugal’s performance is not that impressive with only three victories, three defeats and a draw in their last seven matches.

German goal keeper Jens Lehmann Found Recipe to Stop Cristiano Ronaldo

There is no doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo is the top gun of Portuguese side and to some extent Portugal’s success in the match depends on the performance of the Manchester United star. However, German goal keeper Jens Lehmann has found out a way to stop this ‘seemingly unstoppable’ midfielder, who is currently in the forefront of winning FIFA Footballer of the Year Award. The Arsenal goal keeper learnt the recipe from his former colleagues in the defense of Arsenal.

Telegraph reported:

"Ronaldo is a player who can make all the difference," said Lehmann. "He is very pleasant to watch playing, but my former colleagues in the Arsenal defence found a very good recipe to stop him. I will not explain to you now how this recipe works, but I know how you can play effectively against him and I have already spoken to our defender Arne Friedrich about it."

German coach Joachim Löw, no doubt, would appreciate Lehmann sharing the recipe with his German teammates. However, let us see if if the recipe really works, because there is no guarantee that the trick that worked a few years back would be quite effective for a more matured and more improved Cristiano Ronaldo.

Germany Worried about Injury Problems

Germany is facing a few injury problems. Lukas Podolsk, who scored three goals so far could miss the game with a calf injury, while midfielder Torsten Frings is yet to recover from his fractured rib and is doubtful for the match. However, the good news for German fans is that midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is expected to come into the match after spending a match in the sideline due to suspension. Among the two strikers, Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose, Klose is expected to start the match, though he has not been at his best so far in the tournament.

German Coach out of Portugal Encounter

Well, do not think that I am indicating Joachim Löw could have come into the field as a player against Portugal. Actually, Joachim Löw was sent to the stand during Germany’s previous match against Austria following a spat with Austrian counterpart Hickersberger. Now, he has been given a one-match touchline suspension by UEFA. Thus, Joachim Löw will not be able to sit at the bench along with other players during the match aginast Portugal. The coach has to watch the match from the stand. No doubt, it might affect Germany’s performance because he may not be able to take important decisions in the crucial situations. Now, let us see how German players can cope up without getting any direction during the match. Oliver Bierhoff will be the acting manager of Germany for this match.

Michael Ballack vs Cristiano Ronaldo?

There is no doubt that Ballack and Ronaldo are the two key players for Germany and Portugal respectively in the match. Ronaldo’s club Manchester United outclassed Ballack’s Chelsea last season, but this time it could go either way round. Ballack scored from a superb free kick against Austria in the previous match, while Ronaldo also played well in the first two matches. However, ahead of the match of tomorrow, both sides are expecting something special from the two in from midfielders of the tournament. I think, in the disguise of Germany vs Portugal match, there is another competition between Michael Ballack and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Scolari Indicates no Change in the Portugal Squad

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is not going to bring any significant change in the starting line up that played in the first two group matches. Nuno Gomes is expected to be the long striker while Cristiano Ronaldo and Simao will be employed in the two wings of Portugal. Armando Petit and Joao Moutinho will be in the midfield, while Deco will play as a playmaker. Jose Bosingwa, Ricardo Carvalho, Pepe and Paulo Ferreira will be in the defense along with Ricardo in goalpost. Scolari expressed his respect for Germany, but he also indicated that it did not expect it was going to be his last game with Portugal.

Sky Sported reported:

"I could, but I'm not going to change anything," he stated. "In principle it will be the same team."

"I don't expect it to be my last game with Portugal," he said. "Everything we have done is one with one objective (to get to the final).

"I have the utmost respect for Germany but I trust my team and I think we are going to go through."

Germany vs Portugal Quarter Final: Online Live Score and Updates

It is for sure that football fans around the world are now eagerly waiting for an exciting quarter final match between Germany and Portugal tomorrow. I guess, you already started to manage your time to watch the match live on television. However, it is also true that not all of you are as fortunate as the rest of you are, because some of you may not be able to enjoy the match on television due to your personal or professional works, or may be you do not have access to the television channel that is showing the match live. Whatever the reason is, I would request you not to put your head down because you can still get the online live score and updates of the Germany vs Portugal match from various online live score websites. Here, I am giving some links of online live score websites:

Live Score
Goalzz
Euro 2008
Goal.com
football-data
Sky Sports
Live Score.cz

Considering the group stage performance of the two sides, you may pick either Portugal or Germany as the favorite for the match. However, I think, both the sides have equal chance in the match. Portugal might be slightly stronger on pen and paper, but taking Germany’s fighting spirit into account, I think, it would not be fair to pick up a favorite in the match. Rather, I just hope to see an exciting quarter final match at the St. Jakob-Park, Basel tomorrow.

Who do you think is going to win the match?