Euro 2012 preview: Germany v Portugal

Mario Gomez

The familiar phrase comes around every two years and so surely by now there is no-one tempted to ‘write off’ the Germans.

On the contrary, many are writing them on their betting slips as the winners of Euro 2012, and looking at Joachim Löw’s squad ahead of their first Euros finals match since a Fernando Torres goal beat them in the Vienna final of 2008 it is easy to see why.

They may be stationed in the dreaded group of death, and their first assignment in which may involve tackling Cristiano Ronaldo, but there is no shaking that unshakable German belief that they are just a few games away from success; a success which could start here.

Löw’s squad suffered a jolt to the system with a recent 5-3 friendly loss to neighbours Switzerland, but that match took place without their large contingent of Bayern Munich players – who were distracted by the subsequent disappointment of the Champions League final – and so with the likes of skilled goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, captain Philipp Lahm, metronomic midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, the lively Thomas Müller and prolific forward Mario Gómez to call upon here, Löw has an embarrassment of riches that few squads in the tournament can boast.

Gómez, in particular, is a player who finds the limelight shining brightest on him as the Germans kick-off their tournament in Lviv, by far the furthest west of Ukraine’s four tournament venues.

Four years ago the 26-year-old was seen as somewhat of a laughing stock after missing several clear-cut chances during Euro 2008, but his record of 41 goals in 52 appearances for Bayern last season tells you everything you need to know about a forward whose luck has turned. His strike in Germany’s 2-0 win over Israel in their final pre-tournament friendly was a 22nd at international level.

Service to him will be provided by the likes of Schweinsteiger, Müller and the brilliant Mesut Özil of Real Madrid, who will fancy his chances of stealing the headlines from a man he gives them up to on pretty much every weekend in La Liga.

Ronaldo doesn’t so much carry the hopes of a nation on his shoulders – the Portuguese can still look to the likes of Nani, Ricardo Quaresma and João Moutinho for inspiration – but it is surely safe to say that for them to have a realistic chance of making it through Group B then their captain will have to be on song.

Goalless draws with Poland and Macedonia before a 3-1 home defeat to Turkey in their last three matches can hardly have raised a happy tune amongst the squad though, but coach Paulo Bento, defender Bruno Alves and Ronaldo himself have all been making the right noises ahead of the first challenge in what promises to be the toughest of groups.

On paper as well as on the pitch the Portuguese look to be a few steps behind both Germany and the Dutch – who they’ll play in Kharkiv in their final group game – and so with every point seeming to matter more in this tightest of sections, Bento’s side might well find themselves squeezed out after their first match.

Of course there remains the very real possibility that Ronaldo could hurt the Germans just as he has done to seemingly every team he’s ever faced, but once they click into tournament mode Germany – Euro 2008 runners-up and World Cup 2010 semi-finalists under Löw – should have enough to pass their first test here.

Gómez will be looking to hit the goal trail early too, and if he does that they Portugal might not be the only team who suffer in his quest to become top goalscorer.

It’s not a formality that he’ll do it, but don’t write him or his country off.

Prediction: Germany 3 Portugal 1

Mark Jones – follow me on twitter

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