Francisco Conceição and Cristiano Ronaldo completed the five-minute comeback
Portugal is through to the final of the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League after defeating Germany in a semi-final clash in Munich on Wednesday evening (June 4).
It had been 25 years since Portugal had last defeated Germany, at the time a 3-0 victory at the Euro 2000 powered by a historic Sérgio Conceição hattrick.
As fate would have it, his son Francisco Conceição subbed on in the second half after Florian Wirtz had given the hosts the lead and started the comeback with a stunning screamer from distance. Just five minutes later, Nuno Mendes – fresh off of winning the Champions League with PSG – pierced the German defence and assisted Cristiano Ronaldo for his record-extending 137th goal for Portugal.
Germany was close to equalising when substitute Karim Adeyemi hit the post to the right of Portuguese goalie Diogo Costa, but Roberto Martinez’s men answered shortly after, forcing Ter Stegen to make a remarkable double save from Diogo Jota and Francisco Conceição.
Portugal kept the lead untouched until the end, beating Germany on their home soil for the first time since 1985 and progressing to the final of the competition. It will be a chance for Portugal to become the first country to win the competition twice after winning the inaugural edition in 2019. France and Spain will contest the other semi-final this evening.
The final is scheduled for Sunday at 8pm.
