Germany suffers shock defeat against Portugal: Ronaldo triumphs!

Germany suffers shock defeat against Portugal: Ronaldo triumphs!

In a thrilling semi-final of the Nations League, the German footballers lost 2-1 to Portugal yesterday. In the Allianz Arena in Munich, a place steeped in football history, this duel took place despite tense weather conditions. Kick-off was delayed by ten minutes due to severe weather warnings that had previously been issued for the region. However, the game started well for Germany, who were ahead in the first half but without scoring a goal.

The first surprise came shortly after half-time: Florian Wirtz gave the DFB team the lead in the 48th minute with a goal that was awarded after a VAR review. But the joy didn't last long. Portugal equalized in the 63rd minute through Francisco Conceicao, the son of former squad player Sergio Conceicao. Just five minutes later, the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 137th international goal and finally put Portugal on the winning path. This goal, assisted by Nuno Mendes, made him the oldest goalscorer in a duel against Germany, in which he now left the field as the winner for the first time in 25 years. Germany had decided the last two encounters in major tournaments, but the wind has changed.

An unforgettable evening for Ronaldo

This evening was special for Ronaldo, who at the age of 40 was able to win against the DFB team for the first time. Despite a challenging game in which he initially seemed rather pale, he was able to lead his team to the final of the Nations League. “It's impressive how Ronaldo manages to play at this level even after so many years,” said Joshua Kimmich, who shone as one of the few top performers in the German team.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez demonstrated a good knack for providing the decisive impetus for success with his substitutions. On the other hand, the German team was affected by the absence of important players such as Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz. These gaps in the defense could not be closed in time, which leads to a critical analysis of the DFB team's performance so far.

What’s next for Germany?

After this defeat, Germany is now focusing on the coming challenge and will play in the game for third place against the loser of the duel between Spain and France on June 8th. As Portugal prepares for the final, it remains to be seen whether three-time Champions League winner Ronaldo will continue to be crucial to his team.

For German fans there remains hope that football will regain its former strength. The future will show whether young talents like Wirtz and Kimmich can fill this gap. One thing is certain: the history books hold a special chapter about this evening in Munich, where a new generation stepped into the spotlight while old legends made their final appearances.

For more details on this exciting game and Ronaldo's big performance, we recommend the coverage of Focus, the analyzes of the New York Times and the reflections of BR.de.