The German team is back in business. After the European Championship opening failure, the Löw-Elf showed rousing football against Portugal – and was led by a relative newcomer.
When he was on the ball, a breath of Circus Roncalli wafted through the Munich Allianz Arena – is there Robin Gosens not necessarily predestined for this in terms of position and technical talent. But with 4-2 of the German national team against Portugal the full-back was the decisive player. He hit the goal twice – one hit was denied.
But it was precisely this scene that was emblematic of Gosen’s rapid appearance that day. In the 5th minute he balanced his left leg after a sharp flank from Matthias Ginter at the left corner of the five-meter room – and seemed to float in the air for what felt like a minute.
Ultimately, he completed this artistic contribution with a precise volley instep push, which carried the play equipment past the Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio into the case. A goal as spectacular as a trapeze show by the Roncalli artists.
Here again from a different perspective: Robin Gosens’ (left) artistic effort in the 5th minute. (Source: MIS / imago images)
And although this is due to an offside position of Serge Gnabry In the end it didn’t count as it was representative of a Gosens who seemed to pull the DFB team along with his irrepressible commitment that day and was also involved in all the goals.
Extra praise from the national coach
ARD expert and world champion Bastian Schweinsteiger Gosens attested a “really big game” right after the final whistle. And Joachim Löw also singled out Gosens in particular after a “class performance by the team” on ARD.
“I don’t know if it was the game of his life. He may still have that ahead of him. But it was a really good game,” praised the national coach. The one so praised could hardly believe his luck himself. When asked how he felt after his first EM goal, Gosens replied to the ARD reporter in disbelief: “Can you pinch me? I don’t think so yet.” He also added: “I’m missing another one.”
Above in the video or directly here watch Robin Gosens’ interview with MagentaTV after the game.
Löw admitted that he “expected the team to improve” after the 1-0 defeat against France. With three points, his team is now behind the French in second place in the preliminary round group F.
This is how the game went:
The first approaches were already promising. The German team was braver than against France, interfered earlier and tried to let the ball run fast. Serge Gnabry, Kai Havertz and Thomas Müller kept changing positions. Joshua Kimmich and Gosens moved up a long way with their own possession. This quickly led to Gosens’ hit, as described above.
Portugal staggered, Havertz (10th), Toni Kroos (12th) and shortly afterwards Gosens again caused danger. But Cristiano Ronaldo himself sprinted halfway across the field after a corner in the 15th minute and was there in time to push Jota’s cross pass over the line. It was the first goal for the record goal scorer against Germany – in the fifth duel and with the 24th shot on goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo (r.) Scored the interim lead for Portugal after a quarter of an hour. But his joy was short-lived. (Source: Pool via REUTERS / Matthias Hangst / imago images)
But the horror for the DFB team only lasted for a short time, in fact the German team was unrecognizable compared to the first game. The sensational Gosens made steam on the left, Kimmich prepared two own goals on the right – from Ruben Dias (35th) and Dortmund’s Raphaël Guerreiro (39th). But these would also have fallen if the Portuguese had not had their foot in the game: In the first, the completely transformed Havertz was already ready to shoot, in the second the significantly improved Gnabry would have been there.
Apart from the goals conceded, the German team convinced in almost every respect – but especially in the offensive, in which Müller also knew how to please as a driver, fighter and preparer. The Bayer star initiated the next goal from Havertz (51st) and a goal from Gosens (60th) that counted this time.
Then the German audience sang “Oh, how is that beautiful” – even if Jota (67th) shortened it. Gosens summed up the game on the ARD microphone accordingly: “It was clear to everyone what was at stake and that there was a lot of pressure on the kettle. And we solved that with flying colors.” There is nothing to add.
Germany – Portugal 4:2 (2:1)
Goal scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (15th minute), Ruben Dias (own goal / 35th), Guerreiro (own goal / 39th), Havertz (51st), Gosens (60th), Diogo Jota (67.)
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