Germany Vs Portugal Preview

GERMANY Neuer Boateng, Mertesacker, Badstuber, Lahm Khedira, Schweinsteiger Muller, Ozil, Podolski Klose

PORTUGAL Rui Patricio Pereira, Pepe, Alves, Coentrao  Meireles, Veloso, Moutinho Nani, Postiga, Ronaldo

Germany are expected to have a fully-fit squad for Saturday’s encounter with Portugal in Lviv.

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger did not feature in any of the pre-tournament friendlies due to a calf problem but has been declared fit, and will take his place in central midfield.

Captain Philipp Lahm will start at left-back, with his Bayern team-mate Jerome Boateng likely to get the nod over Lars Bender on the opposite flank, with the chosen player tasked with shackling Cristiano Ronaldo.

Portugal coach Paulo Bento should recall new Valencia signing Joao Pereira to the starting XI in place of Miguel Lopes at right-back, while Helder Postiga is vying for a starting berth in attack.

Winger Nani picked up a foot injury in the 3-1 friendly defeat against Turkey last Saturday but is expected to be fit, and will take his place on the right of a front three.

• Germany have won just two of their last five matches (W2, D1, L2) heading into Euro 2012.

• The Mannschaft beat Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Portugal 3-2 at the quarter-final stage of Euro 2008, en route to a 1-0 final defeat by Spain.

• Germany and Spain were the only teams to have a 100 per cent record in the qualifying phase, although the Germans played 10 games to the Spaniards’ eight.

• Joachim Low’s side were the second-highest scorers in qualifying, their 34 goals only three shy of the Netherlands.

• Portugal have won just one of their last six matches (W1, D3, L2).

• The Seleccao are meeting Germany for the 17th time, with their head-to head record reading W3, D5, L8.

• Three of Portugal’s last five games have ended goalless.

• Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured right) netted seven times in eight qualifiers, taking his international goals tally to 32, level with Luis Figo. Only Pauleta (47) and Eusebio (41) have scored more.

Bastian Schweinsteiger
POSITION:	Midfielder
SQUAD NUMBER:	7

GAMES	GOALS	YC	RC
0	0	0	0

The combative midfielder has endured a rough patch at Bayern, where he was hampered by injuries and suffered a traumatizing defeat in the Champions League final against Chelsea. However, a fifth major tournament appearance with the national team gives him a chance to atone for those disappointments, and there are few players who can control the pace of the game as well as the 27-year-old.

Cristiano Ronaldo
POSITION:	Striker
SQUAD NUMBER:	7

GAMES	GOALS	YC	RC
0	0	0	0

The Real Madrid star has struggled to reproduce his club form for Portugal in major tournaments and has netted just twice in his last three international competitions (Euro 2008, World Cups 2006 & 2010). With the Seleccao lacking a quality centre-forward, Ronaldo will have to lead from the front when it comes to goalscoring, and there is the added incentive of reclaiming the Ballon d’Or he last won in 2008.

Prediction

Editor’s Prediction

 Germany2     3Portugal