8 July 2006
 
GERMANY 1-3

PORTUGAL

Schweinsteiger 56, 79  

Gomes 88

Petit 61 (og)    
     
Metzelder headed down a Schneider free kick and Kehl flashed a volley just wide
of a post. Simao dribbled from the half-way line and played in Pauleta with a lovely
disguised pass, Kahn covered his near post and like an idiot Pauleta shot straight
at him. Ricardo, trying to look busy for the cameras, made an un-necessarily
spectacular save from a Podolski free kick.

Ricardo, who is an accident waiting to happen, was beaten for the second time in the
tournament when he misjudged the flight of speculative shot from Schweinsteiger.
Five minutes later he was picking the ball of his net again when Petit sliced a
Schweinsteiger free kick past him. It took the Portuguese over an hour to really
trouble Kahn, Deco forcing the Bayern 'keeper into a superb two handed save.
Minutes after coming on as a substitute for Klose, Neuville sprayed a ball out wide to
Schweinsteiger, Petit backed off as the midfielder ran in on goal, Schweinsteiger took
a step inside and let rip with an amazing right foot shot which arched away from
Ricardo before nestling into the corner of the net. Kahn was almost caught by a
ferocious 40 yard Ronaldo free kick, deceived by the flight of the ball he managed to
make a split second adjustment and punch the ball clear. Figo, in his last ever
international appearance, and Gomes combined to score a consolation goal. Gomes
met Figo's outswinging cross with a brilliant diving header.

That reprehensible cheating shit Ronaldo, who was once again booed unmercifully,
should have been booked for an outrageous dive in the box at the end of the first half.
He's in for a long season regardless of whether he stays at Man United or leaves for
another club.

Attendance : 52,000
Assists : Kehl, n/a, Neuville, Figo
 
 
R Mehdi