Portugal vs. Germany Live Blog

BREAKING NEWS: John McLaren has been sacked by the Mariners.

The national anthems are played and we are moments away from kickoff!

Portugal will have a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Nuno Gomes as captain and the main forward, Paulo Ferreira and Bosingwa are on yellow cards so they must be careful or else they are out of the next match.

Germany are using a 4-2-2-2, which is a variation of a 4-4-2, their goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is on a yellow card as well and a couple of other German players.

The pitch looks really awful, the turf was installed 3 days ago so there should be some interesting play in Basel.

Germany kicks off the quarterfinals!

Klose leaves it for Philipp Lahm but Simao takes it away and is fouled.

Germany looking to reach the semifinals for the first time since 1996, when they won it all in England.

Some scary moments there as Schweinsteiger was chasing the ball and Ricardo kicks it out of danger.

Bosginwa, and Simao is brought down by Lukas Podolski who gets a talking to by the ref. Simao had his ankle kicked and gets back up.

Ronaldo with it on the left flank and he whips it in and Lehmann is there to collect.

Germany seems to have a massive height advantage over the Portuguese.

This is Ballack, Lahm's pass is away by Pepe.

Pitch doesn't look too bad so far. Germany have had quite the lion's share of the possession in the first 6 minutes, Cristinao Ronaldo, Pepe and Joao sends it deep and the header down by Gomes just needed a touch by Deco and that would've been a good chance for Portugal.

Dangerous free kick chance for Germany and Hitzlsberger puts up a lousy kick that hits the wall.

Portugal seem flat to begin this game, Germant playing much better. Hitzlsberger goes for goal! Side netting and that's the first chance of the game that probably would've been saved anyway.

Deco, Simao, good ball for Bosingwa and Gomes can't get a touch on it!

Throw in though for Portugal, and they are dispossessed right away by Hitzlsberger.

Simao, Deco trying to pass it right side but the German defense holds strong.

Klose is taken down, no foul though, Portugal trying to get a counter attack on but it fails miserably.

Pretty uneventful start to this match, probably just nerves.

Simao had Ronaldo and Gomes available but the ball was poor. Deco holding it, good ball for SIMAO!!!!!! Lehmann stops it near post and that's the first chance for Portugal.

Schweinsteiger called for handball, no chance for him as he thought.

Schweinsteiger wins a corner with his good run, chance for Gernany and it's taken quickly and Ballack's up there! But the header sails high and it's a goal kick.

Nuno Gomes looking for Ronaldo and Metzelder clears it for a corner or else Ronaldo had a chance for goal.

Simao to take the corner, 19 minutes gone, lousy one it was. Petit gets it back though, Simao again, Bosingwa wide and sends it in for JOAO MOUTINHO!!!!!! Just high and I think he panicked, he could've had a header or a volley but instead it goes off of his knee and that's the best chance of the game.

Still looking for our first goal of the match after 20 minutes, offsides called on Ronaldo.

Podolski with a good run and SCHWEINSTEIGER SCORES!!!!!!!! GERMANY HAVE SCORED THE OPENER AND IT IS BRILLIANT PLAY!!!!!!!!!

Schweinsteiger gets position on Paulo Ferreira, times his run to perfection and slides in and puts it home with the touch of his boot.

Stunning goal, good play, Joao Moutinho is now down...

Only 3 times a team has won when conceding first, Turkey twice and Spain yesterday.

Petit is given a yellow card for a stupid challenge on the German player, nowhere near the ball there.

Free kick for Germany, Schweinsteiger will take it, AND KLOSE IS THERE!!!!!!! IT'S 2-0!!!!!

The marking was absolutely poor, two players were there, and it was actually off of his shoulder and it goes in. Portugal are flattened, 2 goals in 4 minutes.

But Ronaldo wins a free kick for Portugal. Hits the wall off of Hitzlsperger. Players tumble on the turf, Petit for Deco, and Lahm heads it to safety for a corner kick.

It's not a way yet and now it is, Portugal have played awful football, they aren't even bothering to attack, and there is going to be a change for Portugal soon as Joao Moutinho will come off and Raul Meireles will come in I believe.

That is the case.....

Free kick won for Portugal, good ball in and it's away by Germany....Portugal seems listless to be honest with you.

What a give and go between Ronaldo and Simao and Ronaldo wins a corner. Should've been a shot or something like that, not a good decision by him to cross it and the corner is not a good one.

Ballack offsides and that could've been 3-0 there.

Bosingwa, and that will be a goal kick, unlucky for him, great for the Germans, after 33 minutes it's 2-0 to Germany.

Germany coming again, and that's another offsides, this time on Klose, he's 1/2 mile offsides clearly.

Ronaldo wins another corner and Simao will take it again, it's not a bad one but Lehmann catches it.

Will this be Phil Scolari's final game as Portugal manager? He will join Chelsea after their tournament is over and it looks like it could come now.

Deco kept the ball in well, Paulo Ferreira, and a chance for MEIRELES!!! Not accurate, well high and wide.

Michael Ballack is on the ground and is injured, he's fine now.

Simao, what a ball, Ronaldo with a chance!!!!! Saved by Lehmann, scramble for it and GOMES!!!!!!!!!!! PORTUGAL HAVE ONE BACK!!!!!!!! What a first touch by Ronaldo, started it all, but couldn't finish, Gomes did.

It's become a thrilling match to watch, and Gomes guaranteed a goal, and Portugal are back in it.

Lahm's first touch let him down, Germany don't seem too frazzled here, Portugal attacking, Ronaldo fires it and it deflects for a throw in, the backheel by Deco doesn't work and his chip for Simao ends up being a goal kick.

Well it's 3:00 until halftime, and I have to say after a hesitant start this game has opened up splendidly. We've had 5 shots on target combined yet it is 2-1.

Germany throw in, and Ronaldo was taken down and no foul somehow. Ballack's onside, goes for the near post! Good save by Ricardo and Germany nearly go 3-1 up.

Ronaldo, what an angle to shoot from and HE GOES FOR IT! Just wide, I mean it just goes 12 inches wide from making it 2-2. He's really trying to make up for failing to mark Klose properly.

The referee blows his whistle for halftime! And what a half it was, a slow start to it, half chances but no really good efforts.

Bastian Schweinsteiger scores his 15th international senior team goal after 22 minutes, just moments after Joao Moutinho put his effort high of the post. Just 4 minutes later Ronaldo loses his marker and Miroslav Klose, the 2006 World Cup golden boot winner gets his first goal of the tournament to make it 2-0.

But Portugal came roaring back with a chance from Ronaldo that is stopped by Lehmann, but Gomes cleans it up and puts it into the net. Ronaldo nearly equalized moments ago with his far post effort that went just wide.

Germany have outplayed Portugal for the most part, but they do not have the momentum after letting that goal slip by just when they had a couple of chances to make it 3-0.

What will happen in the 2nd half? Can Portugal rally and make it 2-2? Or will Germany go to the semi-finals for the first time in 12 years?

Halftime in Basel, Switzerland sees:

Germany 2 Portugal 1

bask in the awesomeness of my kinfolk rockin' the pitch...

2nd half begins.....

Philipp Lahm has been booked for a harsh challenge. Simao goes down but no foul given.....

Chippy first 5 minutes and the rain is coming down, which means this pitch better be up to the test.

PORTUGAL HAS EQUALIZED!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Except for the part where Gomes is offsides by a mile.

In other news: Dave Bush has a no hitter against the Blue Jays so I know ESPN will cut away from this game if he gets close.

Portugal holds it! HOLDS IT! HOLDS IT!!!!!!!!!

Corner kick for Portugal and Ronaldo got banged in the head.

Ronaldo, pretty good ball in but it's straight to Jens Lehmann, who left ArseCrackNal to return to Germany, considering he sucks with the team and lost his starting position.

Germany on the defensive quite a bit here, the 5th corner for Portugal in the match and PEPE somehow put it high! I mean he is 2 feet away from goal but I think he got surprised by the flick on.....

I just read your lockerroom chunk above... first of all, Hitler and Germany are not synonomous...and you're taking Hill's comment out of context...still in poor taste, but...

Portugal are really aggressive here but they are lacking quality with that final ball and now there will be a booking on Pepe, he clattered Klose from the looks of things, more like a football tackle but it's not really a foul.

Free kick for Germany, Schweinsteiger to take it, BALLACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GERMANY HAS HEADED IT HOME AND PORTUGAL ARE FLATTENED ON A SET PIECE AGAIN!!!!!!

Once again the marking is lousy, Paulo Ferreira blows it again, Ricardo was in no man's land, Ballack gets a head on it straight into an empty net, his 2nd goal of the tournament, and Portugal are in danger of elimination.

Ahh it's all over The Germans will go on and show their dominance

Anything less than a Euro Cup and a World Cup Championship in 2010 is a failure for this German team

Nani on and Gomes off, Ronaldo to wear the captain's armband.

Turkey showed us to never give up in this game, Portugal have a free kick and Ronaldo's free kick is disappointing.

Lyle Overbay tripled for the Blue Jays and Dave Bush loses the no hitter after 8 innings for those who care.

I've got to eat lunch, back in 15.

LU Lu Lu Lu Lukas Podolski

This is a very deep and experienced German side that has been together since 02 they know they blew a great opportunity in 06 and they will not let another one slip through

Okay, while Portugal continue to be inept on set pieces time to go off topic.

If anyone watched a preview for Sportscenter, you'll see the following graphic about Buster Olney talking about Chien Ming Wang:

Olney: Wang out, What next?

OH PORTUGAL HAVE ONE BACK AGAIN!!!!!!! It's HELGER POSTIGA!!!!!

With 3 minutes to go Germany are up just 3-2! It's a beautiful cross and an even better header!

Bosingwa, it's given away, Germany should be playing keepaway now.

One of the games of the tournament so far.

crap these guys will not go away

4 mins in stoppage time too damnit

Helder Postiga (sorry for the typo) was booked for a bad scissor tackle on the German player.

Into stoppage time now, the 4th official indicates there will be 4 minutes of stoppage time.

Can Portugal force extra time? Ball is only half away, Deco, away again to Bosingwa, goes for goal and it's high and wide.

Just 2:40 to go at a minimum...

geez

ah lu lu so close

GERMANY WINS

Nani, free kick to Germany, a clear push on Postiga and that may be the end of it.

But Germany give it away, final minute to go!

Ronaldo sends it in but it's away by Germany, Podolski is in here, goes for it!!! Saved by Ricardo, trying to heave it forward and IT IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scolari has managed his last game in Portugal, the runner-ups in 2004 are out in the quarterfinals, Germany are in the semifinals in a gripping match with plenty of goals.

The set plays, the free kicks kill Portugal in the end, and with their coach Joachim Low watching from the stands instead of the touchline, they have won it in a thriller.

Goals by Germany: Schweinsteiger 22, Klose 26, Ballack 61

Goals by Portugal: Nuno Gomes 40, Helder Postiga 87

Heartbreak for Portugal, joy for Germany, and ESPN just showed a really good looking Portuguese lady that probably offsets the sadness for their fans around the globe.

So Germany get a deserved win and will face either Croatia (a team they lost to in group stage) or Turkey, the Cinderella team.

That's it from me SSR, the final score in Basel, Switzerland, and the last game in Luis Felipe Scolari's managerial tenure in Portugal, sees:

[edit] Germany 3 Portugal 2

that pissed me off...