What an awful evening for Germany! And what a marvellous one for Portugal! Germany set up in uncharacteristically tentative fashion from the off – Hrubesch will be under the microscope I expect – and seemed ill-equipped to respond to Bernardo Silva’s superb 25th-minute goal. Two more followed before half-time from a lovely, imaginative Portugal attack and Rui Jorge’s side was out of sight. Any flickering hopes of a comeback were ended less than a minute into the second half when Joao Mario scored, and the ignominy was sealed by a Joao Cancelo strike and a Leonardo Bittencourt red card. An incredible scoreline, and a fair one at that.
Portugal will now be hot favourites to beat either Sweden or Denmark – and if Bernardo Silva, Ivan Cavaleiro, Joao Mario and company hit it off as they did today then there’ll be little stopping them.
Nick Miller will be in the hot seat for that Scandinavian derby, which should be an absolute cracker, and you can join him here for that one. That’s all from me though – thanks for your company.
Full-time: Portugal 5-0 Germany
That. Was. A. Thrashing.
90+1 min: Two minutes of added time to be played.
@NickAmes82 Since modern system with host country began in 94, biggest win Eng-Turkey 6-0 2000. Before that, a number of 7-goal wins.
— FilosofenUa (@FilosofenUa) June 27, 2015
STAT!
90 min: Rafa darts through the middle and seems to be cynically fouled by Heintz but an advantage is played. The advantage is ceded when Carvalho over-elaborates with a backheel.
Updated
88 min: Portugal are going for more goals, but Cancelo’s cross from the left is too deep.
87 min: Felix Klaus must have done something very nasty to Hrubesch this week. He’s just been brought on for Korb.
86 min: Antonio Brandao with some welcome Portuknowledge –
“Although Sporting is still one of the best youth academies in the world, this team really shows the work of the other two main teams, which is responsible for Portugal U21’s success in this competition. Players like Cavaleiro, Bernardo Silva, Oliveira among others are outstanding and very important to the team!”
84 min: I’d imagine the clash of the Scandis later will be rather closer. Germany are getting a fair bit of the ball here now but they know, Portugal know, you know and I know that we’re all just playing down time now.
82 min: Rafa finds a lot of space inside the area and drills the ball across looking for Ricardo, but it’s beyond him.
81 min: I can’t believe how one-sided this has ended up. Portugal were better from the off, but not *that* much better. Germany just capitulated after going a goal down and saw their high line completely picked off.
Updated
@NickAmes82 What's the current record scoreline in an U-21 official match, you reckon Nick?
— Vishnu Prashanth (@kvp1998) June 27, 2015
I can look later, but can anyone advise for now? It won’t be threatened here, I’m sure, battering though this is.
78 min: Touche, Michael Minihan!
“Sporting Lisbon was the best talent generator in the world. And then it generated Nani.”
76 min: Jorge Pino may, by the sounds of his name, be biased but says – “William Carvalho is the living proof that Sporting Lisbon is still the best talent generator in the world. Six Sporting players in this Portuguese squad, just amazing.”
Sergio Oliveira’s free kick post-red card, is clung onto by Ter Stegen.
Updated
Red card! Bittencourt is off (75)
Can things get any worse? The substitute has been booked already but clips Cancelo’s foot and is booked again! Germany are down to 10. Hrubesch cuts a woebegone figure on the side.
Updated
You know it is bad when the German journalists are leaving the press box. Still 18 minutes left...
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) June 27, 2015
Lazy journalism.
72 min: Cancelo picked up the pieces of a Rafa burst down the left that Korb had interrupted. He looked up and swung in a right-footed cross that Horta, who could have gone in with his head, really cleverly flicked past Ter Stegen with his foot. Well done, all three subs! Wow – Germany have been eviscerated here!
Updated
Goal! Portugal 5-0 Germany (Horta 71)
A trouncing.
Updated
70 min: I’ll tell you if something happens. Germany are trying to force things but little is coming off.
@NickAmes82 It's a mystery how a quite limited Sweden got 1-1 against this Portugal side.
— FilosofenUa (@FilosofenUa) June 27, 2015
Either you are Italian and insinuating something or ... errr ... yes.
67 min: And take it away, Sam Lewis –
“Carvalho looks a player doesn’t he? Surprised there’s not more clubs in for him this summer, especially when defensive midfield playmakers are at a premium?”
It’s an interesting point Sam. What do we all think? Would *your* club fancy Carvalho?
66 min: Thank goodness, some emails. Help me out here, David Correia –
“As a Portugal fan, I’m delighted with today’s performance. At this point, I’m just hoping they save some goals for the final.
Lack of goals cost the Under 20 World Cup team (which in my biased opinion was the best in the tournament) a few weeks ago.”
65 min: Sergio Oliveiro whips the free-kick in and it pinballs off one of Volland and two red shirts. Goal kick given.
64 min: And now Sergio Oliveira is blocked off by Heintz, 30 yards further forward, to win a free-kick. Guerreiro is replaced by Joao Cancelo in the meantime.
63 min: Bittencourt makes an agricultural foul on Sergio Oliveira out on the left touchline by halfway, and is booked.
Updated
62 min: Carvalho shoots over from 20 yards.
62 min: Inbox is a bit quiet. You can’t have all given up on this already in favour of ice cold beers in the beaming sunshine by the tranquil canal?
60 min: Meyer, to Bittencourt...and a sharp ball for Volland, who is being played onside by Esgaio and has a great chance if he can control it. But he cannot control it.
Updated
58 min: Bittencourt looks lively and inventive, it must be said. Should he have started for Germany?
Updated
56 min: Meyer’s ball to the back stick is well defended by Carvalho, but Volland then wins a corner. Younes slips after receiving that short, and Portugal can counter yet again.
55 min: Bittencourt is barged over by Guerreiro for a free kick that, were this not 4-0, would be in a very interesting area.
Updated
54 min: Substitute Horta gets to the left byline and tees up the other replacement, Rafa, but he can’t quite tame the ball for either shot or run on goal and the chance goes. Then Meyer has a long shot deflected through to Sa.
53 min: This has been so disappointing and so surprisingly timid from Germany. Coach Hrubesch changed their starting lineup, seemingly through concern about Bernardo Silva, and compromised on his team’s usual assertive style. Was there the need? They have been thoroughly punished here.
51 min: How do we spice up the next 40 minutes, then?
50 min: Bernardo Silva has a slight knock and there will be no risks taken ahead of the final. Off he goes, and on comes Rafa Silva of Braga. What a performance it has been from then Monaco man. Meanwhile Leonardo Bittencourt replaces Schulz for Germany, but it won’t matter.
Updated
47 min: Bernardo Silva broke down the middle and passed to Carvalho on the right corner of the area. He knocked it straight back to Joao Mario, whose shot took a deflection off Heintz and few past the helpless Ter Stegen! Any hopes of a comeback that Meyer’s introduction may have sparked are over as soon as they began.
Updated
Goal! Portugal 4-0 Germany (Joao Mario 46)
Er, no.
Updated
Peeeep! Second half underway!
Can Germany turn it around?
Germany are making a half-time change – the more attacking Meyer for Geis. Portugal have removed the excellent Cavaleiro, who may have taken a knock, and replaced him with Ricardo Horta.
Reader Steve Pospisil has kindly allowed me to use a picture he took of *that* psychedelic stand. And look – just look! – at that floodlight!
William Carvalho, Joao Mario, Bernardo Silva, Cavaleiro and Ricardo all outstanding
— John Ashdown (@John_Ashdown) June 27, 2015
Pretty much the sum of it – Carvalho and those front four players have been in a different league.
Half-time: Portugal 3-0 Germany
Well! Portugal deserve it. They have played very cleverly, mixing up short passing with more direct play that has exposed Germany down the sides time and again, and their attackers are a joy. Can Germany, who have generally been anaemic and a yard slower, muster any sort of response?
45+2 min: Another superb goal. Ricardo gets into space down the left, chips over a superb ball to Joao Mario, who has pulled away from his marker at the far post. He brings the ball down, can’t work an opening for his own shot so unselfishly goes back to Cavaleiro, who wraps his foot around it emphatically from 15 yards and finds the top corner. A rooted Ter Stegen had no chance! 3-0!
Goal! Portugal 3-0 Germany (Cavaleiro 45+1 min)
That’s probably that.
Updated
45 min: Good save by Sa! Germany are having a bit more success popping balls into their front men at the moment and this one finds Younes, who dances into some space 2o yards out and shoots across Sa ... who dives to his left and parries away.
44 min: Joao Mario is sprung down the right by Cavaleiro and lays back to Carvalho, who is showing some attacking intent at the moment, but he tries to beat a man too many and it breaks down.
43 min: J R in Illinois has a joke pertaining to the current economic situation in Europe – “Obviously the referee, one Mr. Tasos Sidiropoulos, has it in for the Germans and is the cause of their current deficit,” he jests.
42 min: Carvalho goes on a bit of a rampage upfield but is tackled before he reaches the area. Can England call on players with the quality and top-level experience of him and Bernardo Silva?
40 min: Better again from Germany, as Geis finds Can in space outside the area. Perhaps he could shoot, but his pass finds Korb overlapping on the right and the right-back’s cross is dived upon by Sa.
37 min: Chance for Germany! Younes works space for Kimmich, who turns sharply and drills low from an angle at the right corner of the six-yard box. Sa saves with his feet, and the ball comes out to Schulz, who can’t keep his shot down from 18 yards. Germany could have done with that.
Updated
36 min: Paulo Oliveira tackles Younes well down the left to concede a corner. Geis delivers, but Figueiredo heads out.
36 min: The root of that goal came from Portugal being willing to spring a runner behind Germany’s high line with a long, direct ball. It’s not all Bernardo Silva and silken touches, they’re mixing things up astutely.
34 min: From said throw-in, Portugal won a corner and Bernardo Silva put it in from the right. Two players went up for it and it took a flick off one of them ... into the path of Ricardo, totally unmarked at the back post, who converted unfussily! Poor, poor defending.
Goal! Portugal 2-0 Germany (Ricardo 33)
Oh dear, Germany.
Updated
32 min: Can fluffs an attempt to play Volland in, and Portugal go straight over the top to release Joao Mario. Ter Stegen, like another German ‘keeper we know, is very quickly out up the field to whack it away for a throw.
31 min: A loose touch from Korb lets the now-recovered Caveleiro take up possession on the left and a counter looks on, but Germany eventually regroup and slow things up, at the expense of a throw-in.
29 min: Caveleiro is the latest to take a bit of a knock, clashing knees with Geis. He’s in some pain but I’d expect him to continue.
27 min: Germany win a corner and Geis finds Can unmarked at the far post. Can should probably do better than loop it back in the direction it arrived from.
26 min: That goal was sublime. Carvalho played the ball to Silva, back to goal, midway inside the Germany half and he lost his man with a wonderful move – deftly flicking the ball round one side and spinning round the other. Cavaleiro took up possession and then, with Silva haring down the inside-left channel, weighed a perfect return pass to him. Staring down the whites of Ter Stegen’s eyes, Silva made no mistake – thudding home with his left foot!
Goal! Portugal 1-0 Germany (Bernardo Silva 25)
Beautiful from Silva!
Updated
24 min: Holding midfielders aren’t always the snazziest to watch but I love watching Carvalho. The physique, the eating up of the ground, the crisp and simple passes, the sheer impassibility when at his best.
Kimmich wishes to be impassable too, in the meantime, but he has to foul Sergio Oliveira and take a booking. Esgaio then lobs optimistically over from very long range.
22 min: William Carvalho is down, which means it must have been some blow from Geis. I think he just caught him accidentally in the stomach as they grappled, and he looks ok now.
20 min: Schulz looks to ping a ball in front of the centre backs but Paulo Oliveira crunches in ahead of Volland.
18 min: Younes brings down a crossfield ball brilliantly and speeds down the right. If he beats Figueiredo, he’s in....but the last-minute replacement does well to come away with the ball.
17 min: Portugal are making most of the running, Germany looking to counter when they can. Joao Mario crosses low from the right, now, but it is cleared and as Schulz looks to counter he is fouled by the right-back Esgaio. First yellow card of the game for him.
15 min: Portugal hit the post!! Ricardo does really well down the right, turning inside a defender and laying back to the onrushing Sergio Oliveira, who makes precise contact with his right foot from the edge of the area but sees his low effort ping off Ter Stegen’s left post with the goalkeeper motionless!
14 min: Younes flops over a bit easily under Silva’s challenge and Germany win a free kick 35 yards out, quite central. Geis is over it and goes for goal .... but it flies into the intriguing stand.
12 min: Volland, the captain, turns really well just past halfway but looks to release the ball a bit too quickly and Paulo Oliveira clears.
11 min: Silva’s first involvement is a provocative outside-of-the-foot cross from the left edge of the area, aimed at Cavaleiro, but it is headed away from in front of goal.
10 min: Emre Can receives the ball from Volland and, in slightly unfamiliar territory, tries to go for the left byline. But he runs the ball out.
Updated
9 min: Suspect Germany’s rather conservative move, bringing in the deep-sitting Geis for the inventive Meyer, is a direct ploy to deny Bernardo Silva space.
8 min: First little sight of goal, the German left-sider Schulz sliding a ball behind right-back and right-centre-back for Volland, but Sa is out to gather.
6 min: Ter Stegen is played into an awkward position by, I think, Heintz and has to nudge the ball away with his right foot. Germany survive but it was a bit unnecessary.
5 min: Now Germany try to attack through Kimmich, who is newly of Bayern Munich, and he is fouled. Tentative start here from his side though.
4 min: Portugal are enjoying most of the early possession, Carvalho already showing that he is a man-mountain who can power through the most fraught of situations in midfield.
2 min: Oh – and there was a late, late, late change to the Portugal lineup. Ilori, the Liverpool man, picked up an injury before the start and Tobias Figueiredo comes into the defence.
1 min: We begin with the Portugal right-back Esgaio playing a ball down the right, well defended by Germany’s left-back, Christian “Not Chris” Gunter.
Peeeeeeeeeeeeep! Portugal start the party
For the benefit of your mind’s eye, they will kick from left to right.
Hard to separate them in the anthem stakes too. Perhaps Portugal on points, slightly, but lusty singing all round.
Good morsel for you: 14 undefeated games apiece for these two. Who will blink?
There’s that stand. And here come the teams! They are out, accompanied by yellow-shirted cherubs.
I was trying to find a picture of the Andruv Stadium for you all just now but couldn’t source one that I’m allowed to use. Maybe one of you can oblige. It’s got one of the best-looking stands in Europe and I really want to go there.
From our man at the game
Bon Jovi's It's My Life booms around the Andruv Stadium in Olomouc as Portugal and Germany complete their warmups
— John Ashdown (@John_Ashdown) June 27, 2015
Your thoughts are, as ever, welcome throughout the next couple of hours. It’s that awkward lull between daytime activity and Going Out Later, there’s not much else for you to do. Any armchair scouts among us? Or even in-stadium scouts? Who’s going to hit the big time here, if they haven’t already?
You probably know at least something about Bernardo Silva, who has been the tournament’s best player so far in most estimates. But this will prep you, either way:
A couple of Liverpool players in action today, of course. Tiago Ilori (who was of course born in London) starts at centre-back for Portugal and Can lines up in his preferred midfield position for Germany.
More reading? Ok, how about a piece on England Under-21s’ struggles courtesy of the ever-superb Richard Williams?
What made Owen Hargreaves different was that he had not been created by the English system. He had avoided the experience of being cosseted from childhood, surrounded by agents and other sycophants, and showered with absurd amounts of money at an age when he might still have been doing a paper round. Everything he was, he made of himself. Everything he achieved he fought for against the odds, going to a foreign country at 16 and learning a new language, developing his self-reliance in a ferociously competitive environment.
Quite a contrast there with the young men who lost two of their three matches in the Czech Republic this month, and were lucky to win the other. Every one of Gareth Southgate’s players had come through English academies, and none of them – even the generally estimable Harry Kane, who did not manage a single goal in 270 minutes of play – produced anything decisive when it really counted.
The teams
Portugal: Sa, Esgaio, Llori, P. Oliveira, Guerreiro, Carvalho, S. Oliveira, Mario, B. Silva, Cavaleiro, Ricardo.
Germany: Ter Stegen, Korb, Ginter, Heintz, Günter, Geis, Can, Kimmich, Younes, Schulz, Volland.
I talked up Max Meyer, who gave Real Madrid problems in the Champions League and has done very well domestically too, but he is out and Johannes Geis is in.
Background reading, class. I expect you to have read and learned John Ashdown’s fine preview of this semi-final by kick-off.
The Hoffenheim striker Kevin Volland has shown hints of the cutting edge that the senior side sometimes lack and the only reason the goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, a Champions League winner with Barcelona, will not earn 100 caps for his country is the fearsome presence of Manuel Neuer in front of him in the queue.
They are the overwhelming favourites here and the sense is that the two best teams in the tournament are meeting in Olomouc. “For me it’s hard to say: ‘We’re the best team or that team is the best team in the tournament,” Hrubesch said. “In the end, the four best teams are facing each other to find out who reaches the final. So no one can be underestimated, none of the four teams. Every team can win it.
Good afternoon
This is not the final of the European Under-21 Championship, so don’t even think it. It’s one of those semi-finals that everyone thinks *should*, if tournaments went really boringly and to the plan, be the final – and while Portugal and Germany are almost certainly the best two teams left in this tournament it means that the door is wide open for the very good Sweden and Denmark sides that meet later.
While we’re here – isn’t there a similar situation in the Women’s World Cup at the moment, with USA to face Germany in a semi? And in the Copa America, a Brazil win over Paraguay tonight would make for an Argentina v Brazil (a fixture that is rarely or never the classic that is lip-lickingly anticipated) last-four tie. The point being....that there isn’t really a point, but these things happen quite a lot.
To the matter in hand. Portugal got here by beating England – no, really – before drawing with both Italy and, a little controversially, Sweden to win Group B. The Germans? They started with a draw against Serbia, belted the Danes 3-0 and then drew with the Czech Republic. It was only enough to earn them second place in Group A, though, which is why we’re set up with this pretty little fixture today.
Germany have a good youth policy, apparently, and among the players to watch out for in their ranks are Hoffenheim’s Kevin Volland (who scored twice against Denmark), the Schalke schemer Max Mayer and sometime Liverpool right-back Emre Can. They also have a Champions League winner in goal – Marc-Andre ter Stegen – which is rather handy.
Portugal are blessed with the kind of silky, speedy technical players you would expect although they are backed up by a formidable brick wall in the Sporting midfielder William Carvalho, who was excellent against England. Monaco’s Bernardo Silva has been a joy to watch at times in this tournament and the likes of Joao Mario and Goncalo Paciencia, who have a goal each to their name, have looked nice too.
All told, this is definitely not a final but it definitely should be a pulsating game. So Don’t. Go. Anywhere.
Kick-off is at 5pm BST. Nick will be here with team news and build-up from 4.30pm.
