Portugal v Germany: Euro 2020 – live!

12.35pm EDT 12:35

Goal! 35 min: Portugal 1-1 Germany (Dias OG)

Germany are level! Gosens finds a ton of space again on the left, meeting a deep cross on the volley and sending it fizzing across the six-yard box. Havertz looks likely to score, but Dias sticks a leg out, and the ball deflects low into the far corner off the Portuguese defender. Löw’s team have been excellent in attack and they deserve to be on the board.

Updated at 12.37pm EDT

12.32pm EDT 12:32

30 min: Germany do come again: Muller flicks a ball on to Gnabry just outside the area, who turns smartly away from Pepe and shapes to shoot. Dias is the last line of defence and he dives in to make a challenge, a fierce 50-50 between the players inside the penalty area. Pepe then has a word with the referee Anthony Taylor, wanting a yellow card for Gnabry for the challenge on Dias. Taylor, quite rightly, tells him to mind his own business.

Updated at 12.33pm EDT

12.29pm EDT 12:29

28 min: Now Kimmich finds space on the German right as they try to get back on terms. He fires a low cross into the six-yard box but it’s too close to Rui Patrício, who flops on the ball and gathers it. Germany must try again.

Updated at 12.30pm EDT

12.28pm EDT 12:28

27 min: William Carvalho strides purposefully forward, towards the heart of the German defence, with the ball at his feet. Havertz fouls him with a push in the back, then remonstrates with the referee after he is penalised. Raphaël Guerreiro curls an excellent ball to the far post from the resulting set-piece. Jota meets it with his head, but it flies over the goal.

12.26pm EDT 12:26

25 min: Should that early German effort, by Gosens, have counted? Maybe so.

Roy Allen (@Roy_Allen)

@LukeMcLaughlin I don’t think Gnabry was active in that attack. Trying to play the ball isn’t enough to make yourself active: you have to impact an opponent in doing so. I don’t think his actions made any difference to the defence. So the goal should have stood.

June 19, 2021

Updated at 12.26pm EDT

12.22pm EDT 12:22

20 min: As transitions go, that was a mightily impressive one from Portugal. Germany, may I remind you, had totally dominated the first 15 minutes. Portugal had hardly had a kick. But give them an inch and they will take a mile. Portugal now pour forward again. Dias meets a deep cross with a far-post header back across Neuer’s goal. It bounces harmlessly wide, but it’s another alarming moment for Germany. This was not in Joachim Löw’s script.

Updated at 12.23pm EDT

12.15pm EDT 12:15

Goal! 15min: Portugal 1-0 Germany (Cristiano Ronaldo)

Remarkable. It was all Germany, and now they are behind. Germany win a corner, taken by Kroos. The ball is headed clear and Bernardo Silva sprints down the Portuguese right on a swift counterattack. Silva lofts a glorious pass to Diogo Jota, who is lurking on the left of the penalty area. They are scrambling to get back, but there is no one at home in the German defence after they had pushed up for that corner. Smooth as you like, Jota takes the ball down on his chest, bears down on goal, waits for the keeper to commit, and with the outside of his boot taps a sideways pass to Ronaldo, who has a simple task to pass the ball into an open goal from inside the six-yard box. The German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was hopelessly exposed by that ruthless counterattack. Are Germany on the way out? They are if it stays like this … that was a stunning piece of play.

Manuel Neuer of Germany looks on as Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal scores the opening goal. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Pool/Getty Images Here’s the view of the finish from behind the goal. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Pool/Reuters

Updated at 12.32pm EDT

12.13pm EDT 12:13

11 min: Loads of space on the left yet again for Germany. Gosens advances into the penalty area and cuts back for Toni Kroos. Kroos unleashes a powerful low shot which Rúben Dias does brilliantly to block in a crowded penalty area. That was on target – and would have called the Portuguese goalie into action again, had the Manchester City defender not blocked it.

Updated at 12.13pm EDT

12.10pm EDT 12:10

9 min: It’s all Germany! Now Havertz smacks a good low shot which Rui Patrício has to get down well to his left to save. That effort was arrowing into the corner after the Chelsea man, who scored the winner in the Champions League final for Chelsea, hit his shot from the edge of the area. Wave after wave of attacks are hitting the Portuguese defence where it hurts. They are holding out for now, but only just.

Updated at 12.11pm EDT

12.05pm EDT 12:05

5 min: VAR check – Germany goal disallowed!

Robin Gosens slams in a fine finish at the far post after a searching cross from the right, but his teammate Serge Gnabry was fractionally offside when the ball was played. Anthony Taylor, the referee, waits for the VAR check and it’s chalked off. Although Gnabry didn’t make contact with the ball, he tried to play it, and is therefore active and it’s no goal. It was a tremendous finish by Gosens, who got over the top of a bouncing ball and drilled it into the net from an acute angle. Germany certainly look dangerous anyway.

Germany’s Robin Gosens (left) shoots and beats Portugal’s keeper Rui Patricio but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review for offside. Photograph: Matthias Hangst/AFP/Getty Images

Updated at 12.11pm EDT

12.04pm EDT 12:04

3 min: Germany’s passing is crisp and progressive in the opening exchanges. Gündoğan plays a good forward pass into Muller’s feet as they look to build another attack. Portugal’s defensive shape is good, though, and they are hold firm so far …

12.01pm EDT 12:01

1 min: Germany threaten immediately, down their left wing. Kai Havertz finds the space to cross low into the danger area, but Portugal repel the ball initially. It immediately comes back down the same flank, and Havertz fouls Pepe, so Portugal have a free-kick and can clear downfield.

Updated at 12.02pm EDT

11.59am EDT 11:59

Joachim Löw takes a look around the stadium, which is holding about 15,000 fans, as he sings along with the German anthem. Antonio Rüdiger of Chelsea, sporting his protective face mask, looks dead ahead, supremely focused. This is not knockout football, in the sense Germany will have a final game against Hungary regardless … but can they muster the victory they so desperately need?

11.55am EDT 11:55

The teams are on the pitch! The Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo is the first out of the tunnel, and limbers up with a short little sprint and a jump. Germany follow their opponents out. Joachim Löw and Fernando Santos, the opposing coaches, bump fists and smile. Now time for the anthems … this is happening!

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo during the national anthems. Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Reuters

Updated at 12.09pm EDT

11.50am EDT 11:50

“Seems self-defeating to leave players of genuine physicality and thrust such as Goretzka, Werner and Sané on the bench against quite a lightweight Portugal midfield,” says Charles on email. “Hansi Flick can’t get through the door quick enough.”

It will be interesting to see how quickly Löw looks to change things if Germany fall behind, for sure. Last-chance saloon time.

Updated at 11.50am EDT

11.47am EDT 11:47

Less than 15 minutes until kick-off in Munich.

You’ve got time to read Andy Hunter’s match report from Hungary 1-1 France, a result which has rather blown Group F open:

Antoine Griezmann rescues France but cannot quieten the Hungary delirium

Updated at 11.48am EDT

11.42am EDT 11:42

There’s a bit of analysis now, on ITV, from Germany’s defeat with France.

“Playing a high line is a high-risk strategy with Mats Hummels in your team, because he can’t run,” insists Graeme Souness.

They show the clip of Kylian Mbappé having Hummels on toast in a sprint race a few days ago, after which Hummels was a touch fortunate not to concede a penalty. To be fair, Hummels will not be facing anyone nearly that quick today. As Nick Ames wrote in his preview, Portugal possess tonnes of skill and guile, but they aren’t the fastest.

Updated at 11.43am EDT

11.39am EDT 11:39

Pictured below: Ronaldo warms up on the pitch in Munich. He’s done this before:

Cristiano Ronaldo warms up. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

And the Portuguese fans are ready:

Portugal fans. Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Reuters

11.33am EDT 11:33

Yash Gupta emails in!

“I find Gareth Southgate and Joachim Löw very similar. Obviously there are few differences as one has won the World Cup and other one beat Panama 6-0, but in tactics nous both are similar. In England’s case yesterday, their full-backs didn’t advance five yards in build-up phase and when they did, they end up holding the width of 18 yard box with them and wingers having no clue of what’s going on … In Germany’s case their best midfielder and possibly the best in the world in his position in Kimmich is playing as a wing-back. Portugal do have problems mainly in defence and the relative lack of pace against Gnabry. But if last game v France was anything to go by, he will be dropping deep. Plus Muller will be playing ahead of Havertz which is not ideal.”

Another another email: “Mike here from Kenya.. Fancy Germany will get a 2-1 win.. Their performance against France wasn’t all that bad especially in the second half.”

And finally, a short and sweet prediction from Martin Lewis: “Portugal 3; Germany 1”.

Updated at 11.34am EDT

11.24am EDT 11:24

ITV are looking back at the small matter of England v Scotland at Wembley last night. The most disappointing tournament display under Gareth Southgate, Gabriel Clarke just called it.

“We go again,” says Harry Kane.

Harry Kane left looking out of place as system built around him fails to click | Jonathan Liew

11.22am EDT 11:22

A little under 40 minutes until kick-off. What are your predictions? Both teams know that after France’s draw in Hungary, everything is up for grabs in Group F. Surely they are both going to go for it?

You can email me or tweet @LukeMcLaughlin – don’t be shy.

Updated at 11.22am EDT

11.16am EDT 11:16

Bookmark this – our one-stop shop for all your Euro 2020 tables, fixtures and results:

Euro 2020 overview: group tables, results, fixtures and the knockouts

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11.07am EDT 11:07

“Honestly, the way he heads the ball, it’s like a League Two centre-half,” says Gary Neville of Cristiano Ronaldo, which he meant as some kind of compliment.

ITV set the scene with some archive footage of C-Ron in action, including a couple of belting headers at Euro 2004.

“He has improved his physicality,” Neville adds. “I knew him when he was skinny … he came back one summer [to Manchester United], and it was like: ‘Wow, what’s happened here?’”

Updated at 11.09am EDT

11.03am EDT 11:03

“It’s quite clear the players are enjoying this, a significant turn in itself.”

Barney Ronay writes that Euro 2020 is looking like the real deal:

Bruising styles, yodelled anthems and fan fever: Euro 2020 feels like the real thing | Barney Ronay

11.01am EDT 11:01

My colleague Niall McVeigh has tweeted an update to the all-time Euros scoring charts – Antoine Griezmann’s leveller for France puts him level with Alan Shearer, on seven.

Niall McVeigh (@niallmcveigh)

Euros all-time top scorers:11: Ronaldo9: Platini7: Griezmann, Shearer#FRA #EURO2020

June 19, 2021

10.56am EDT 10:56

Full-time! Hungary 1-1 France

A huge result for Hungary. They survive a late penalty appeal, and they’ve won a point against the world champions. That makes Portugal v Germany all the more interesting … bring it on.

Hungary v France: Euro 2020 – live!

Updated at 10.59am EDT

10.52am EDT 10:52

Teams

Both teams unchanged from their opening matches. Germany coach Löw sticks with the side that lost 1-0 to France. Leroy Sané is on the bench again, along with Timo Werner of Chelsea: you’d expect both to be involved at some point this evening.

Portugal: Rui Patrício, Nélson Semedo, Pepe, Rúben Dias, Guerreiro, Ronaldo (C), Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Danilo, William Carvalho, Diogo Jota.

Germany: Neuer (C), Rüdiger, Ginter, Hummels, Kimmich, Havertz, Kroos, Gnabry, Gosens, Gündoğan, Müller.

Referee: Anthony Taylor (England)

Updated at 11.13am EDT

10.44am EDT 10:44

Jonathan Wilson wrote about Germany and Joachim Löw a couple of weeks back:

“These Euros will help determine his immediate legacy, but he occupies a curiously ambiguous place in football history.”

Joachim Löw’s flawed planning leaves talented Germany at the crossroads | Jonathan Wilson

Updated at 10.45am EDT

10.42am EDT 10:42

Into the final 10 minutes in Budapest, and it remains 1-1. That would put the cat amongst the Group F pigeons, leaving France with four points, Portugal with three, Hungary with one and Germany still on zero – but with everything to play for in the group …

Hungary v France: Euro 2020 – live!

Updated at 10.42am EDT

10.39am EDT 10:39

“Germany did not play poorly in losing narrowly to France. If anything they more or less conformed to expectations, although that observation brings its own unsettling conclusions. They were generally held at arm’s length, one squall of pressure aside, by opponents who were simply a notch more accomplished.”

Nick Ames looks ahead to this evening’s hotly-anticipated match in Munich:

Löw must conquer angst and Ronaldo in high-stakes battle with Portugal

10.34am EDT 10:34

Something of a cracker is unfolding over in Budapest, where Hungary are level at 1-1 with France in the second half:

Hungary v France: Euro 2020 – live!

10.30am EDT 10:30

Preamble

Come what may, Joachim Löw will be leaving his role as Germany’s manager in the next few weeks. Today’s match against Portugal may determine whether, after 15 years in the job, he leaves under a cloud – or in a burst of summer sunshine. Die Mannschaft were narrowly defeated by the world champions, France, in their opening match last Tuesday. Consequently, they need a positive result against the European champions Portugal today if they are to avoid a humiliating group-stage exit. No easy games at this level, and all that.

It’s a good thing that Löw’s reputation does not rest entirely on this match: success at the 2014 World Cup means his legacy is secure, although suspicions that he is no longer capable of getting the best from a richly talented squad have steadily been growing, particularly since the dismal showing at the 2018 World Cup. Victory for Germany today, and who knows? Perhaps this group of players can build momentum through the tournament, and give their coach a fitting send-off with a run deep into the knockout stages.

Not that Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal will care about any of that. They eventually wore Hungary down to run out 3-0 winners in Budapest a few days ago, and possess an astonishing array of attacking talent which is a match for any team at the tournament. If ‘CR7’ can join forces with Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Jota and Bernardo Silva and ensure Germany’s downfall, Fernando Santos’s men will be into the last 16 with a game to spare. Germany have never lost to a team containing Cristiano Ronaldo, and most recently trounced them 4-0 on the way to winning the big one in 2014.

The stakes could hardly be higher, and fans of both countries face a nervous, emotionally-draining few hours ahead. For us neutrals, it’s quite simply a dream of a fixture that promises to be one of the most compelling of the tournament. Let’s hope it lives up to that billing. Team news, pre-match reading and more is coming right up.

Updated at 10.32am EDT