Ronaldo scores 137th international goal as Portugal defeat Germany after 25 years to reach Nations League final

Cristiano Ronaldo wore the captain's armband in the semi-final meeting at Munich's Allianz Arena and put Portugal in the lead just five minutes after Francisco Conceição, whose father Sérgio had scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Germany in Euro 2000, scored a sensational equaliser. read more
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with Nuno Mendes after scoring Portugal's second goal in their UEFA Nations League semi-final against Germany in Munich. Reuters
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 137th international goal as Portugal defeated Germany after a gap of 25 years in their UEFA Nations League semi-final meeting in Munich on Wednesday. Ronaldo, wearing the captain's armband in Wednesday's clash at the Allianz Arena, put Portugal in the lead five minutes after Francisco Conceição scored a sensational equaliser.
Bayer Leverkusen forward Florian Wirtz had earlier put four-time world champions Germany in the lead in the 48th minute.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
It was Portugal's first win in Germany since a World Cup qualifier in Stuttgart in October 1985 — some six months after a future superstar was born in Madeira.
More from Football
On his record-extending 220th appearance, Ronaldo became the oldest player to ever score against Germany while ending his 'curse.' The former Real Madrid star lost each of the previous five games he'd played against Germany.
Portugal defeat Germany for the first time since Euro 2000
Portugal hadn't beaten Germany since Sérgio Conceição scored a hat trick for a 3-0 victory at Euro 2000.
On Wednesday, Conceição's son — 22-year-old Francisco — pulled Portugal level just five minutes after making his entrance with a brilliant long-range strike inside the far post after he surged past Robin Gosens like he wasn't there.
Liverpool target Wirtz had given Germany a 48th-minute lead with a perfectly placed header inside the right post, but Portugal coach Roberto Martínez made his changes count as he brought on Conceição and Champions League winner Vitinha among the substitutes.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Vitinha excelled as Portugal finished the game in the ascendancy just four days after he helped Paris Saint-Germain win the Champions League final against Inter Milan in the same stadium on Saturday.
Germany needed goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen at his best to prevent the visitors from scoring any more.
'When we're not at 100 per cent then we can't compete with the top teams,' said Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, who was missing Jamal Musiala among others.
PSG wing backs João Neves and Nuno Mendes both started for Portugal, while Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade started for his Germany debut and had the home team's best first-half chance saved by Diogo Costa.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Conceição made his mark in the 63rd. Mendes gave Ronaldo a simple finish five minutes after that.
'It could have been more,' Mendes said.
France plays Spain in Stuttgart on Thursday in the other semifinal, with Germany awaiting the loser to decide third place.
With AP inputs

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

News18

26 minutes ago

• News18

'Fans Don't Enjoy It': River Plate's Gallardo Laments Mastantuono's Move To Real Madrid

Last Updated: Marcelo Gallardo expressed disappointment over Franco Mastantuono's move to Real Madrid, and slandered the modern-day pratice of early transfers. Franco Mastantuono's transfer to Real Madrid was premature, and an experience that River Plate fans haven't taken too well, stated coach Marcelo Gallardo. Gallardo acknowledged that losing Mastantuono would leave a significant void in his squad and their plans going forward, since he had built them around the 17-year-old. The midfielder progressed through the River academy and made his first-team debut in January 2024. Earlier this month, River Plate finalized a deal with the Spanish giants, reportedly worth around $45 million, for the highly rated midfielder. Mastantuono is Real Madrid's third signing this summer, following Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool and Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. The Argentine manager expressed concern that Mastantuono needed more time to develop at River Plate, but conceded that early transfers have become a norm in today's football landscape. 'It's natural—we train players for the world. Everything is happening faster now; young players are leaving sooner, and I understand that's just the reality of the game," Gallardo told ESPN on Friday. 'Our sporting plan for the year included him. Now we'll have to adjust, because some players are simply very difficult to replace. 'We always knew Mastantuono would leave eventually, but it's never easy for the fans. The transfer market dictates the timing." Gallardo also shared that he's trying to help Mastantuono stay focused on the tournament despite the media attention surrounding his move. 'All I ask is for him to play freely and try to block out the noise, even though that's a tall order," he said. 'I don't bring up where he's going to live or anything like that. I just want him to do what he does best—play football." Following Saturday's match against the Mexican side in Pasadena, River Plate are set to face Champions League runners-up Inter Milan on Wednesday. (with inputs from Reuters)

The Hindu

37 minutes ago

• The Hindu

Nuno extends Nottingham Forest contract until 2028

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo has extended his contract with Nottingham Forest until the summer of 2028 after helping the club qualify for a European competition for the first time since 1995-96, the Premier League club said on Saturday. Portuguese Nuno, who previously managed Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur, joined Forest in December 2023 and helped the team avoid relegation before guiding it to a seventh-place finish in 2024-25, its best top-flight campaign in three decades. READ: Liverpool signs Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen Forest narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot as it finished a point below fifth-placed Newcastle United, settling for a place in the Conference League's playoff round. 'I am delighted to be able to continue our journey at this fantastic football club,' Nuno said in a statement after signing the new three-year deal. 'We have worked extremely hard to create a special bond between the players, the fans and everyone at the club, which helped us achieve great things last season. Now is the time to work harder than ever as we strive for more special memories together.'

India Today

2 hours ago

• India Today

Meta launches Oakley smart glasses for athletes: Price, specs and more

Meta has teamed up with Oakley to introduce a new generation of performance AI glasses, aimed at athletes and sports enthusiasts. Dubbed the Oakley Meta HSTN, the latest innovation blends Oakley's bold styling with Meta's advanced technology, promising to redefine how users experience and share their sporting new range launches alongside a global campaign featuring sporting icons, including World Cup champion Kylian Mbapp and NFL star Patrick Meta HSTN glasses The Oakley Meta HSTN glasses bring together striking design and advanced technology, drawing inspiration from Oakley's popular HSTN frame. With their bold, confident styling, they not only make a statement but also offer a host of smart features aimed at enhancing performance and convenience. At the heart of the glasses is an upgraded camera capable of recording ultra-clear 3K video, making it easy for users to capture hands-free footage of their activities from their own point of view. Audio has been thoughtfully integrated too, with open-ear speakers built into the frame, so wearers can enjoy music, podcasts or calls without the need for glasses also feature built-in Meta AI, which provides real-time assistance during activities. Whether it's checking wind conditions on the golf course or posting a video to social media with a simple voice command, the AI is designed to make interactions smooth and intuitive. Durability hasn't been overlooked either — the glasses are rated IPX4 for water resistance, meaning they can handle rain, sweat or splashes during outdoor sports. advertisementAs for battery life, the Oakley Meta HSTN offers up to eight hours of use on a full charge, while a quick 20-minute top-up provides around 50 per cent charge. The included charging case ensures extended usage by delivering up to 48 additional hours of battery on the and pricingThe Limited-Edition Oakley Meta HSTN will be available for preorder from 11 July at $499 USD (around Rs 43,200). A broader range will follow later in the summer, with prices starting at $399 USD (approximately Rs 34,600).Initially, the glasses will be sold in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Australia. Meta plans to extend availability to Mexico, India and the UAE by the end of the marks a significant step in Meta's bid to integrate AI technology more deeply into everyday accessories, aiming to offer both functionality and style to a growing community of users.