Just days after hosting the UEFA Champions League final, Allianz Arena is set to host a high-voltage UEFA Nations League semi-final between Germany and Portugal. The home team are playing in the UNL finals for the first time, while the visitors are pushing to become the first team to win the title twice.
Germany will be heading into the semi-final high on confidence as they have only lost one out of their last 11 games at home. Their only defeat came in the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-finals against eventual winners Spain.
While Die Mannschaft dominated the proceedings against Italy in the quarter-finals as they were leading 5-1 heading into the second half of the second leg, they conceded three in the final 45 minutes and had to work worry hard to get past them. But they will still be confident of going past Portugal and extending their winning streak against them to six games.
Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez is starting to feel the pressure as Portugal’s manager after a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign and a not-so-convincing win over Denmark in the quarter-finals of the UNL. They were on the verge of getting knocked out but a late goal by Francisco Trincao kept them in the tie before they secured a win in extra-time.
The 2019 UNL winners might not have been at their best in the recent past but they certainly have a star-studded squad that can go past Germany if they play to their potential. However, it won’t be easy as they have lost to Die Mannschaft in the 2006 and 2014 World Cups as well as the 2008, 2012 and 2020 Euros. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
After spending the last nine months on the sidelines, Marc-Andre ter Stegen is finally back in the mix and should start in this fixture ahead of Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nubel.
Julian Nagelsmann will be without the services of quite a few players as Yann Bisseck suffered a blow in the Champions League final and has joined Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck and Jamal Musiala on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Kai Havertz hasn’t been risked for this clash.
The hosts will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where the Barcelona star Ter Stegen will be in goal. Skipper Joshua Kimmich who is set to feature in his 100th game could start at right back with Maximilian Mittelstädt on the opposite flank.
In the heart of the defence, Jonathan Tah will partner with Waldemar Anton. The back four will be protected by the double pivot of Leon Goretzka and Pascal Gross. They will look to ensure they control the temp of the game.
Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane should feature on the flanks with the highly sought-after Florian Wirtz taking up the number ten role. Deniz Undav should be the one leading the line for them.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): ter Stegen; Kimmich, Tah, Anton, Mittelstadt; Gross, Goretzka; Gnabry, Wirtz, Sane; Undav
Roberto Martinez doesn’t have any major injury concerns, and the only change from the squad that faced Denmark is the omission of Geovany Quenda, with uncapped Rodrigo Mora replacing him.
The visitors could line up in a 4-4-2 formation, where Diogo Costa will be in goal. Diogo Dalot and Nuno Mendes will be the full-backs, while Ruben Dias will partner with Antonio Silva in the heart of the defence.
Bernardo Silva and Brun Fernandes will feature out wide on the flanks in midfield, while the PSG duo of Vitinha and Joao Neves will feature in a more central role. The four will look to control the tempo and ensure Germany do not end up dominating the ball.
In attack, Diogo Jota will partner with Cristian Ronaldo, who is set to earn his 220th cap for Portugal.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Diogo Costa; Dalot, Dias, Silva, Nuno Mendes; Bernardo, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Fernandes; Diogo Jota, Ronaldo
The 40-year-old Portuguese skipper is the fourth-highest goal scorer in the ongoing Nations League with six goals to his name and he will be looking to catch up to Viktor Gyokeres who has nine goals to his name.
Having contributed towards 39 goals in his 41 outings during the 2024/25 season, Ronaldo is still going strong and he will certainly be the biggest threat for the German defenders.
While he may no longer be the player he was at his peak, Ronaldo remains a major threat in the final third thanks to his exceptional positioning and clinical finishing. With 136 goals for his national team, the Portuguese legend will be determined to add to his tally in the semi-final.Germany might be heading into this semi-final high on confidence, but they are up against a Portugal side that has the experience and quality to hurt them. Die Mannschaft will look to dominate possession and dictate the tempo through their midfield, but the absence of key players like Jamal Musiala and Antonio Rudiger could leave them vulnerable, especially at the back.
Portugal, on the other hand, might not have looked at their fluent best in the quarter-final, but they know how to get the job done. With Joao Neves and Vitinha running the show in midfield and the experience of Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line, they have the firepower to cause problems for the German defence.
If they manage to stay organised defensively and take their chances, they could edge this one and book a place in the final. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for the away team.
