Gomez wins it for Germany
Germany's Mario Gomez celebrates scoring their first goal of the game
As early as the second minute, the match had its first event. A cross from the right-hand side by Boateng went in towards Mario Gomez, but his header from 12 yards was saved easily by Rui Patricio.
In the 32nd minute, Podolski skied a chance over. A neat passage of play down the left side resulted in Bastian Schweinsteiger playing a square ball to the new Arsenal signing inside the area. But from 15 yards, the former Koln men put the ball well over the bar.
In the 42nd minute, Germany had a host of chances. A cross from the right-hand side by Thomas Muller was aimed towards Gomez's head, but it was just inches over his head. The ball though, went through to Podolski on the far left side, who smashed it back across goal with his first touch, into the path of Muller. With his first touch, the Bayern man shot, but the effort went pathetically wide.
A minute later Portugal had the best chances of the match. A corner from the right was whipped in by Veloso. The ball ended at the feet of defender Pepe, who, from the penalty spot, curled it past Germany keeper Manuel Neuer and the ball came off the underside of the bar.
Just as the Germany coach Joachim Low was about to substitute him, Gomez delayed the coach’s decision. The forward opened the scoring for Germany when a cross from the right-hand side was aimed right at the Bayern man's head, and he headed it into the bottom right-hand corner of the net to make it 1-0 in the 72nd minute.
It was the striker’s 23rd international goal for his country.
For minutes later, not content with sitting on their lead, Germany went on the attack again and Muller, down the right, whipped in a great ball, low across the box. But Mario Gomez couldn't stretch long enough to just knock it in.
In the 87th minute, another superb ball from Nani as it is whipped, but this time Mats Hummels had to be there to deny a clear goal scoring opportunity for Varela.
The last minutes of the match belonged to the Portuguese but the Germans hung on for dear life as they grinded out the victory.
Portugal will meet Denmark on Wednesday in their next match whilst the Germans will meet the wounded Dutch hours later that day.
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