Nations League | Semi-Finals

Jun 4, 2025 at 11pm UK

Allianz Arena Munich

Germany vs Portugal

Match preview

This will be the first time that Germany and Portugal have met in the Nations League, and their first meeting outside of a major tournament since 1997.

Germany have the honour of hosting the finals on their first appearance at this stage, and they are in excellent form going into this semi-final, having lost just one of their last 11 home games — the Euro 2024 quarter-final against the eventual winners, Spain.

Morale was low in Germany ahead of last summer's Euros, but optimism is growing that they can compete with the very best ahead of the 2026 World Cup. For three-quarters of their quarter-final tie with Italy in this competition back in March, this proved to be the case.

However, Julian Nagelsmann's team struggled to see out the match, despite leading 5–1 on aggregate at half-time in the second leg. Germany conceded three second-half goals to Italy and were fortunate to see an away penalty overturned by VAR.

Nevertheless, this continues their strong performance in this edition of the Nations League, having also won their group with ease, earning 14 points from a possible 18 in a group containing the Netherlands, Hungary, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Germany are creeping up the outright markets for next summer's World Cup, and they are favourites to win the Nations League on home soil this month. They will therefore be confident of extending their winning streak against Portugal to six matches.

The two teams are accustomed to meeting on the big stage, but since losing to Germany in the group stages at Euro 2000, Portugal have been beaten by their opponents at the 2006 and 2014 World Cups, as well as at Euro 2008, Euro 2012 and Euro 2020.

This is not the sort of record that Roberto Martínez will want to see heading into this match, especially given the pressure he is under following a disappointing Euros last summer and an unconvincing win over Denmark in the Nations League quarter-finals.

Portugal were four minutes from elimination after drawing 2-2 at home, following a dismal 1-0 defeat in the first leg. However, Francisco Trincão's late equaliser and early strike in extra time helped Portugal secure their spot in the semi-finals.

The 2019 winners are the underdogs among the final four, but many of their current squad were part of the victorious team six years ago. This result would set them up perfectly ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in September, where they will face Ireland, Hungary and Armenia.

After their uninspiring performances at Euro 2024, which included losing to Georgia and needing penalties to see off Slovenia before going out to France, it was important that Portugal performed well in the Nations League groups. Martinez did see a reaction from his players, though, as they remained unbeaten in a section that included Croatia, Scotland and Poland.

Recent Performance

Germany Nations League form:WWWDWD

Portugal Nations League form:WDWDLW

Team News

Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is back after nine months out with an injury and is expected to start ahead of Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nübel.

Captain Joshua Kimmich is set to make his 100th appearance for Germany. He is the in-form player in the squad after his dazzling performances against Italy, in which he scored and set up the other four of their goals across the two legs.

However, there are numerous players unavailable to Nagelsmann, with Yann Bisseck the most recent addition to the list after limping off in the Champions League final. He joins Antonio Rüdiger, Nico Schlotterbeck and Jamal Musiala on the sidelines, while Kai Havertz has not been risked.

Amid rumours linking him with a move away from Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to win his 220th cap for Portugal against a nation he has never beaten before.

Bernardo Silva won his 100th cap in the second leg against Denmark, and he could join two of Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League winners, João Neves and Vitinha, in midfield.

Geovany Quenda is the only player missing from the squad that faced Denmark, with fellow uncapped forward Rodrigo Mora replacing the Chelsea-bound teenager.

Possible starting lineup

Germany possible starting lineup:

Ter Stegen; Kimmich, Tah, Anton, Mittelstadt; Gross, Goretzka; Gnabry, Wirtz, Sane; Undav

Portugal possible starting lineup:

Diogo Costa; Dalot, Ruben Dias, Antonio Silva, Nuno Mendes; Bernardo, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Fernandes; Diogo Jota, Ronaldo