That's what happened after 90 minutes of competition between the two "giants," Germany and Portugal, in the first semi-final of the 2024-2025 Nations League. In this match, Germany's coach Nagelsmann didn't have his strongest lineup. The absence of two key players, Gnabry and Musiala, gave young players a chance to feature in the starting XI. Up front, the trio of Woltermae, Wirtz, and Sane were tasked with scoring. On the right wing, captain Kimmich played the role of playmaker. On the other side, Portugal fielded Fernandes as the playmaker, with Ronaldo positioned as the furthest forward.

Right after the opening whistle, both teams proactively accelerated their pace with a committed style of play. Several scoring opportunities were created; however, against the well-organized defenses and the goalkeepers' ability to control space, the attacks remained mere chances, with no goals scored after 45 minutes.

In the second half, Germany took the initiative, increasing the pace with the ambition of scoring first. This proactive approach finally paid off for the white-shirted team. In the 48th minute, from a direct attack, Kimmich delivered a skillful pass, allowing Wirtz to head the ball home, giving Germany a 1-0 lead.