Football singularity

Chapter 813: Chapter 813 Vs Portugal

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[19-06-2021 | Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany | 16:45 CEST]

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Portugal: 4-2-3-1

GK: R. Patrício

RB: N. Samedo CB: R. Dias, Pepe, LB: R. Guerreiro

CDM: W. Carvalho, D. Pereira

RM: B. Silva CM: B. Fernandes LM: D. Jota

ST: C. Ronaldo

VS

Germany: 3-4-2-1

ST: S. Gnabry

CAM: T. Müller, K. Havertz

LM: R. Gosens, CM: T. Kross, i. Gündogan, RM: J. Kimmich

CB: A. Rüdiger, M.Hummels, Ginter

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"For those just tuning in, I am your host, Sam Matterface, and joining me in the commentary booth is the phenomenal Lee Dixon." He introduced, an excited tone audible in his voice as the camera panned down to the tunnel where both teams began walking out. "No rain in the forecast makes for an exciting night of football from the footballing Giants. What can you tell us, Lee?"

"Cracking atmosphere, Sam," Lee Dixon answered as the camera tracked the two captains walking shoulder to shoulder down the tunnel. "Allianz is buzzing, fourteen thousand inside, but they’re making the noise of forty. Two heavyweights, both desperate for three points in their own ways. Portugal is sitting pretty after that demolition of Hungary, and Germany is licking their wounds after the France defeat. Should be a corker."

"And Fernando Santos has stuck with the same eleven that put three past Hungary," Matterface noted as the Portuguese filed onto the touchline. "Why change a winning formula, especially with Ronaldo coming off two goals and a man-of-the-match display?"

"Löw, on the other hand, has had to think harder," Dixon added. "Despite the backlash and media pressure, he has chosen to line up the same starting eleven as Hummels, and keeps his place despite the own goal. Which I think tells you everything about Jogi’s faith in his veterans, but is this a calculated decision or an ego play to prove he wasn’t wrong on Tuesday?"

"For his sake, I truly hope it’s the former, as this Ronaldo Portugal side came into this tournament fully intent on defending their European Championship," Matterface added with a wry expression that quickly brightened up as the teams emerged from the mouth of the tunnel. "And here they come, all speculations go out the window, and football does the talking."

They were greeted with boisterous applause and whistles rolling in equal measure from the stands. Manuel Neuer led Germany out in their white home kit, the green trim catching the floodlights. At the same time, Cristiano Ronaldo walked Portugal out in scarlet, captain’s armband tight around his bicep, expression all business.

"Look at him, Sam," Dixon murmured. "Thirty-six years old, just rewrote the record books in Budapest, and he still walks out like a man with a point to prove."

"He always does, Lee. That’s why he is who he is."

A vocal Portuguese contingent in the far corner unfurled a long red banner reading "CAMPEÕES DA EUROPA" as the anthems began. The players carrying the pride of their nations stood with their shoulders square, mouthing every word. Das Deutschlandlied followed moments later, and the Allianz Arena noticeably lifted, showing exactly whose home it was despite it supposedly being an away game for the host nation.

The anthems faded, and the captains met Anthony Taylor at the centre for the toss, exchanging their ceremonial pennants. The English referee flipped the coin with practised efficiency, Ronaldo pointed to the half, and the players broke for their starting positions.

~~~

[2021-06-19 | Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany | 17:00 CEST]

[Portugal vs Germany]

(FWEEET!)

Germany kicked off, Gnabry tapping it back to Müller, who immediately swept it back to Hummels. The defender took two touches, scanning the pitch as Portugal came charging forward with Ronaldo leading the lines as he moved to close down the German libero. Not letting himself be pressured, he quickly sent the ball wide to Ginter on the right, which his teammate tried to send up to Kimmich.

However, upon finding three red shirts closing in on him from all sides, he chose the safe option, booting it long up the line. The leather sphere flew through the sky, crossing the halfway line before leaving the pitch for a Portugal throw. The Portuguese took the throw quickly, Guerreiro pinging it inside to William Carvalho, who turned and fed Bernardo Silva drifting infield from the right. The Manchester City man let it roll across his body, drawing Kroos in with a feint, and then slipped a pass to Bruno Fernandes ahead of the German defensive lines.

"Portugal is already finding pockets," Matterface noted as Fernandes spun away from Gündoğan’s pressing shoulder. "Watch the movement of those front four."

Fernandes lifted his head and dinked it forward toward Ronaldo, who had peeled off Rüdiger’s blind side. The Portuguese captain rose between Hummels and Ginter, neck snapping through the contact, but the connection was thin, glancing the ball over Neuer’s bar by a foot.

"Oh, that’s a warning, Sam," Dixon said as Ronaldo landed and immediately gestured for the corner. "Five seconds, and he is already in the box."

[8’]

Germany began to settle into the match, stringing together a sequence of passes as Kross began to demand more of the ball. Moving like that, they managed to push the defending champions into their own half, where Gündoğan pinged a ball wide to Gosens on the left flank. The Atalanta man received the ball on the half turn, facing Semedo and Carvalho, who came to shut him down.

Performing a set of steps, he cut the ball back to Kross in the middle, and the Real Madrid man pinged an aerial ball to the left side of the box. Müller had exploded into the vacant space behind, bumping into Dias as he chased the landing spot. He managed to stay composed and on his feet, reacting nimbly enough to trap the ball and escape wide.

The two faced off for a moment before the German dropped a shoulder toward the touch line before cutting the ball to the penalty spot. Havertzs pushed away from Pereira and closed in on the ball, his left foot already swinging at the incoming ball. He hit it sweetly, guiding it to the far right beyond Carvalho’s desperate slide, trying somehow to reach the ball.

Rui Patrício, between the sticks, did not have time to think and just shuffled across and dove, trying to reach it somehow. But no matter how he stretched, he could not reach it and could only watch it clip the inside post, sending the net rattling. The Allianz erupted, immediately scarves and beer flying into the air as Havertz sprinted to the corner flag, arms spread wide. The German bench spilt out of the technical area, Löw clapping his palms in excitement before snapping straight back into instructions.

"KAI HAVERTZ!" Matterface’s voice climbed with the noise. "Germany strikes first, and what a build-up! The Allianz is shaking!"

"That’s the Germany people wanted to see, Sam," Dixon added quickly. "Watch the rotation, Gosens drawing two, Kroos with the dink over the top, Müller running the channel, and Havertz arriving late. Textbook stuff, but hard to make look easy, and Patrício has no chance."

[Germany 1-0 Portugal — Havertz 9’]

Portugal restarted with an edge, Ronaldo barking at Bruno Fernandes before the ball had even returned to the centre circle. They pushed forward immediately, Bernardo Silva drifting infield once more and dragging Gosens with him. The space he vacated on the right was instantly attacked by Semedo, who picked up the overlap with pace that left the Germans unsettled for a moment.

Rüdiger immediately charged out, legs swinging up forcefully as if he would stomp his opponent down. Forcing the Portuguese fullback to the byline and forcing Semedo to whip in a forceful low cross that fizzed across the six-yard box. Ronaldo pierced the box, stretching every fibre at the near post, but was unable to make clean contact, sending the ball flicking off his heel and trickling out for a goal kick.

"Inches!" Dixon exclaimed. "He’s a yard quicker and that’s level."

[20’]

Around the twenty-minute mark, Müller drifted into the middle between Pereira and Guerreiro, dragging the Sporting fullback out of his line. Kroos spotted the gap and threaded a pass through, which Müller cushioned on the half-turn, flicking it square to Havertz in one go. The Chelsea man took a touch and tried to slide Gnabry in behind, but Rúben Dias read it perfectly, stretching out a long leg to nick the ball away for a throw.

"Brilliant defending from Dias," Matterface noted. "He’s one of the best centre-backs in the world this season for a reason."

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TO BE CONTINUED...

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