Germany have rarely been mentioned among this summer’s leading contenders but, in the best game of Euro 2020 so far, they produced a sensational response to their doubters. It was a triumph for Joachim Löw, whose reign has looked close to ending miserably, and included an individual performance that may not be bettered all tournament.
Robin Gosens wreaked havoc down the left flank and Portugal simply could not cope; he forced the own goal from Ruben Dias that restored parity after a brilliantly worked opener from Cristiano Ronaldo, created Germany’s third for Kai Havertz and emphatically added his own to take matters beyond the point of no return. Portugal, who may feel unlucky that Raphaël Guerreiro also scored at the wrong end in a frantic spell after the half-hour, struck last through Diogo Jota but were well beaten in a potentially transformative statement from their hosts.
