Perfect Portugal condemn Germany

Portugal completed Group B with a third victory and unblemished defensive record as they overcame Germany 1-0 at the Ta' Qali National Stadium.

Germany needed to win and were relying on Switzerland beating Scotland to have any chance of facing the Netherlands in the last four, but they could not hold up their end of the deal as Pedro Rodrigues' strike condemned Christian Wück's men to a second defeat in the phase.

Portugal started with an understandable confidence given they had already wrapped up top spot in the section and booked a semi-final against England on Sunday. Buta's deflected effort forced Timo Königsmann into an early save while Germany were thankful to Benedikt Gimber as he blocked a goalbound drive from Pedro Delgado following a dangerous free-kick from Rodrigues.

News of a Switzerland opener offered Germany encouragement but they offered little in attack until seconds before the interval when Arianit Ferati's inswinging corner was flicked on by Phillipp Ochs only for Allessandro Fiore-Tapia to crash his header against the post with the goal at his mercy.

Germany showed their true colours after the break but profligacy blighted their ambitions. Fiore-Tapia timed a run to perfection but Fábio Duarte read his intention to round him, and even when the Germany forward did outwit the Portugal custodian with the same move minutes later he could only hit the side-netting with the goal unguarded.

Rodrigues made Christian Wück's men pay the price on 51 minutes as another vicious delivery evaded everyone and nestled into the far corner of Königsmann's net. Three second-half goals for Scotland rendered the remainder of the contest irrelevant for Germany and their demoralised side would have suffered a heavier reverse had Alexandre Silva and Pedro Empis not passed up further chances.