Germany U21s have bowed out of the European Championship at the semi-final stage in the Czech Republic. Head coach Horst Hrubesch’s side were beaten 5-0 by Portugal in Olmütz, with the game almost wrapped up at the break with Portugal 3-0 in front. Bernardo Silva, Ricardo Pereira, Ivan Cavaleiro, Joao Mario and Ricardo Horta were the goalscorers.
The 9,876 spectators in Olmütz, among them DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach and sporting director Hansi Flick, witnessed a nervous German performance. Portugal were on top in the middle of the park with their technically strong stars of Bernardo Silva and William Carvalho, with Germany only looking dangerous on quick breakaways.
Portgual create plenty of chances
The Germany defence were given their first warning from the Portugal frontline as early as the 15th minute, when Ricardo fed Sergio Oliveira inside the box, whose shot cannoned off the right-hand upright. The Portuguese then took the lead after an impressive attack down the left flank. After quick interplay, Ivan Cavaleiro passed to Bernardo Silva, who kept his nerve when one-on-one with ter Stegen.
Ricardo capitalised on a mix-up in the German defence from a corner just nine minutes later to fire home from close range and double Portugal’s lead. Joshua Kimmich and Nico Schulz, meanwhile, both missed chances to get a goal back, before Amin Younes tested Portugal keeper José Sa with a shot from distance. Despite the German pressure, Ivan Cavaleiro struck a shot into the corner to increase Portugal’s lead on half time.
Same story in second half
At the start of the second half, Hrubesch duly reacted, bringing on Max Meyer in place of Johannes Geis, who was the only change in the starting XI from the final group game against the Czech Republic in place of his future Schalke teammate. But Portugal were fortunate when Joao Mario’s shot took a wicked deflection off Dominique Heintz and became unstoppable for ter Stegen as Portugal made it 4-0.
Leonardo Bittencourt came on for Nico Schulz in the 50th minute to shake things up in the Germany attack but the Portuguese remained unmoved, converting a fifth goal to make it 5-0 against a visibly shocked Germany side. To top it all off, Bittencourt was dismissed in the 75th minute following a second bookable offence.
