Germany and Portugal will face off in the first UEFA Nations League 2025 semi-final on Wednesday, 4 June. Here’s our match preview.
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Germany vs Portugal: Preview
Germany and Portugal clash in Munich for a high-stakes UEFA Nations League semi-final — their first-ever encounter in the tournament’s history. Hosts Germany are making their debut at this stage, while Portugal are eyeing a second crown after winning the inaugural title in 2018/19.
Their most recent competitive clash came during the UEFA EURO 2020 group stage, where Germany secured a 4-2 win — also at the Munich Football Arena, which now hosts this electrifying semi-final showdown.
Germany Eye Redemption on Home Soil
Julian Nagelsmann’s men reached the semi-finals with a dramatic 5-4 aggregate victory over Italy in the quarters. A 2-1 triumph in Milan set the tone before a thrilling 3-3 draw in Dortmund, where Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, and Tim Kleindienst found the net to fend off a late Italian surge.
With Germany hosting the UEFA Nations League finals, their flawless home form in Group A3 provides plenty of encouragement: three wins from three, 13 goals scored, none conceded. Die Mannschaft remained unbeaten on the road as well, delivering their most impressive away performance in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory in Italy. Back in Germany, they surged to a 3-0 lead by half-time in the second leg, though Italy’s late rally served as a reminder to Julian Nagelsmann that his team must remain focused throughout.
Tactically sharp and progressive, 37-year-old Julian Nagelsmann—formerly of Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig, and Bayern Munich—took charge in September 2023 following Hansi Flick’s departure. In 2024, he became the youngest-ever coach at a European Championship, at 36 years and 327 days, though his side fell to Spain in the quarter-finals on home soil. He’ll have another shot, having signed an extension that keeps him in the role until EURO 2028.
Since stepping into the job, Nagelsmann has blended modern tactical innovation with the traditional values of German football, winning the support of fans through a collective-first approach. The two-leg tie against Italy highlighted the team’s high-octane pressing, tactical fluidity, and ability to exploit numerical advantages across the pitch.
Veteran midfielder Joshua Kimmich, on the verge of earning his 100th cap, stands as a symbol of this new chapter. Despite being deployed at right-back by Nagelsmann, the Bayern Munich stalwart has been integral, contributing to all five goals in Germany’s quarter-final success. His leadership and adaptability continue to shine as Germany chase redemption.
Meanwhile, a fascinating generational shift is unfolding. Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz are at the heart of the debate, two dazzling talents with the ability to change games. With Musiala sidelined through injury, Nagelsmann faces a crucial decision: how best to build around the 22-year-old Wirtz to unlock his full creative potential.
Germany’s recent Nations League home record adds another layer of confidence—just one loss in their last 12 matches on German soil (W5, D6).
Julian Nagelsmann, Germany coach: “It’s always good to have home games, it’s like a mini European Championship, like last summer. I think the Portuguese team prefers to have possession rather than defend, so we’ll try to force them to defend a bit more. Then it’s a big chance with our fans behind us to play a good game.”
“I have nine out of 11 positions in mind. There are a few final decisions to be made. The players have yet to be informed, but if they paid attention in training they’ll have a feeling of whether they’re starting or not.”
Leon Goretzka, Germany midfielder: “We’re excited. It’s a special situation for many of us, we just had a short break for about a week. We’ve already been pushing hard in training again, and we’re looking forward to getting started now.“
“I think you can’t reduce Portugal down to just Cristiano Ronaldo. Sure, he’s one of the greatest players in our history, but it’s a team filled with world-class players, and we’re well prepared for that.”
Portugal Chase Second Nations League Title
Portugal also staged a comeback in their quarter-final matchup, overturning a 1-0 first-leg defeat in Copenhagen to beat Denmark 5-2 after extra time in Lisbon. Substitute Francisco Trincão inspired the turnaround with an 86th-minute equaliser and an early goal in extra time, before Gonçalo Ramos sealed the deal late on to send Roberto Martínez’s side into the last four.
None of the other semi-finalists managed to win their opening three matches in the league phase, but Portugal did just that, establishing early dominance. Their qualification was sealed with a match to spare following a second-half five-goal blitz against Poland on Matchday 5 — a showcase of the attacking firepower at Roberto Martínez’s disposal. That offensive edge reappeared in the dramatic quarter-final second leg, though it took extra time to emerge. Now, Portugal must prove they can replicate that scoring prowess away from home to avoid a repeat of their EURO 2024 exit, where their campaign fizzled out in the knockout stages.
Roberto Martínez made an immediate impact after taking over as head coach, guiding Portugal to a flawless EURO 2024 qualifying campaign. However, the clinical edge deserted them during the tournament’s latter stages, as they failed to score in both knockout fixtures and ultimately fell to France on penalties in the quarter-finals. The Spanish tactician has brought fresh ideas and tactical flexibility, aiming to get the best out of a supremely gifted generation.
Martínez has introduced systems that allow Portugal to alternate between three and four at the back, enhancing their tactical depth. However, fine-tuning the balance remains a work in progress. A 4-3-3 setup is likely to be his go-to in Germany, but much depends on the makeup of his forward line. Will he opt for pace and width with Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, or Francisco Conceição flanking Cristiano Ronaldo? Or will he lean towards a more dynamic and fluid trio featuring Francisco Trincão, Diogo Jota, and Gonçalo Ramos?
Despite a challenging club season, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has remained central to Portugal’s rhythm and transitions. His tireless work ethic, positional intelligence, and versatility make him indispensable. Operating in a free role, he has forged a strong midfield partnership with Bernardo Silva, and when Fernandes is in full flow, Portugal are always a threat.
Another crucial figure is Vitinha, the deep-lying playmaker who orchestrates Portugal’s tempo. A standout performer for Paris in their landmark 2024/25 campaign, he has become the fulcrum of this Portuguese side. Calm under pressure and precise with his distribution, Vitinha is trusted to control possession and steer the team’s rhythm. As Johan Cruyff famously said, “There’s only one ball, and when you have it, you don’t need to chase it” — a philosophy Vitinha personifies.
Cristiano Ronaldo, still rewriting records at 40, became the oldest player to score in the Nations League when he netted Portugal’s second goal in their quarter-final second leg against Denmark. His enduring presence and knack for delivering in decisive moments remain vital for a team looking to reclaim European glory.
Roberto Martínez, Portugal coach: “It doesn’t get any bigger than the challenge of facing Germany, just because of the team that they are. I think the coach is doing a very interesting job of bringing clear ideas that, whoever the player is, he executes to perfection, which is a big strength. And then probably the second challenge is to play away from home at their ground.”
“We saw it in the quarter-finals; we saw that out of the eight games, only one home team lost. That’s something we need to overcome and make sure we use the support of over 10,000 Portuguese fans that we are going to have.”
Bruno Fernandes, Portugal midfielder: “It’s a very difficult game, obviously, against one of the best national teams in the world. But from our side, we’ll also be one of the best national teams there. So, I expect a very good game from both sides. But at the end, obviously, I expect Portugal to get into that final.”
“Portugal are ready for anything. We have a good team that is prepared to play in any type of moment, in any type of style. We know what’s best for us, and we will try to put that into the game. But we are ready to face the intensity of Germany or whatever they want to bring on the pitch.”
Germany vs Portugal: Recent Form
Germany: DWDWWW
Portugal: WLDWDW
Germany vs Portugal: Head-to-Head
Total Matches Playes: 5
Germany Win: 5
Portugal Win: 0
Draws: 0
Germany vs Portugal: Team News and Predicted Lineup
Germany – Team News
Ter Stegen is poised to regain his spot as the first-choice goalkeeper, but Nagelsmann still faces key tactical decisions—beginning with whether to deploy a back three or a traditional four-man defence ahead of the Barcelona keeper.
With Musiala sidelined due to injury, who will partner Wirtz and complement his elite creative ability? And in attack, might one of Stuttgart’s German Cup heroes, Undav or Woltemade, be preferred to the more seasoned Füllkrug to spearhead the frontline?
Germany – Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper: Ter Stegen
- Defenders: Kimmich, Tah, Koch, Gosens
- Midfielders: Goretzka, Gross, Wirtz
- Forwards: Gnabry, Sané, Füllkrug
Out: Amiri,Bisseck, Havertz, Henrichs, Kleindienst, Musiala, Rüdiger, Schlotterbeck, Stiller
Portugal – Team News
Roberto Martínez is expected to stick with Portugal’s trusted core, though he’ll be forced to cope without João Cancelo, who is unavailable.
The squad still boasts impressive depth, with Pedro Gonçalves returning to the mix. Keep an eye on rising star Rodrigo Mora—the 18-year-old Porto midfielder has received his first senior call-up and could be one to watch.
Portugal – Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper: Diogo Costa
- Defenders: Dalot, Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Mendes
- Midfielders: Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, João Neves
- Forwards: Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Rafael Leão
Out: João Cancelo
Germany vs Portugal: Prediction
Germany and Portugal have been the top-scoring sides in the 2024–25 Nations League, and all signs point to another end-to-end clash filled with goalmouth action.
Portugal may boast the more balanced starting XI, but doubts linger over Roberto Martínez’s tactical credentials—particularly his continued reliance on Ronaldo up front. With the semi-final set against a backdrop of a partisan German crowd, the visitors could fall just short.
Prediction: Germany 3-1 Portugal
Where To Watch The Nations League Semi-final LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The UEFA Nations League 2025 Semi-final semi-final between Germany and Portugal is set to begin at 12:30 AM IST on Thursday, June 5, at the Allianz Arena, Germany. The match will be broadcast live on the Sony network and will also be available for live streaming on Sony LIV.
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FAQs
When is the Germany vs Portugal UEFA Nations League semi-final?
Germany and Portugal face off in the UEFA Nations League semi-final on Wednesday, 4 June, at the Munich Football Arena.
Who are the key players for Germany in the semi-final?
Joshua Kimmich, Florian Wirtz, and goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen are expected to play vital roles for Germany, with Wirtz taking on more responsibility due to Musiala’s injury.
What tactical system will Julian Nagelsmann use against Portugal?
Nagelsmann may choose between a back three or four-man defence, and he faces key decisions in attack, including whether to start Undav or Woltemade.
What is Portugal’s squad update ahead of the Germany clash?
Portugal will be without João Cancelo, but Pedro Gonçalves returns, and 18-year-old Rodrigo Mora has earned his first senior call-up.
Who has the better form going into the Nations League semi-final?
Both teams have been prolific, but Germany remain unbeaten at home and look strong under Nagelsmann, while Portugal must prove they can match their scoring form away from home.
