Germany 1 Portugal 0 (THE SUN)

MEZ-MERISING ... Mario Gomez heads Germany in front

Published: 20 minutes ago

MARIO GOMEZ'S thumping header gave Germany victory - as Portugal's rousing revival came far too late.

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The defensive Portuguese fended off the toothless Germans until Gomez nodded home Sami Khedira's 72nd minute cross.

That was the cue for a Portugal side with world-class flair players in Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani to finally switch on.

And Silvestre Varela wasted the finest of their sudden string of chances as Germany were suddenly clinging on for a win they might just have deserved for their control of the first three-quarters of the match.

Early on, Portuguese striker Helder Postiga was booked for a sliding challenge on over-dramatic German keeper Manuel Neuer.

But Ronaldo's trickery gave Portugal an occasional outlet.

And the Real Madrid star's series of step-overs led to a raking cross cleared from the face of the German goal.

Arsenal's new hitman Lukas Podolski showed the type of woeful finishing that will make Arsene Wenger even more desperate to keep Robin van Persie - swinging high and wide from the edge of the area after Mesut Ozil's centre drifted into loads of space.

Then Gomez peaked penalty-area ping-ball with a cross-shot wide.

Nonetheless, Portugal almost stole an opener in the final minute of the half, Pepe measuring a fierce 16-yarder off the angle of bar and post and down onto the goal-line.

The Portuguese fended off Germany's rampant start to the second period, notably an almighty scramble on 46 minutes and vital challenges in quick succession on Podolski and Thomas Mueller.

And, as Portugal offered far more on the break, Jerome Boateng needed to produce an outstanding block when Ronaldo pegged his foot back ready for a clear shot at goal on 64 minutes.

But Khedira flighted one of the few game's few accurate crosses for the high-rising Gomez to power home a top-corner header.

Mueller soon burst down the right to measure a cross just inches from Gomez's outstretched boot.

But Portugal roused belatedly, Fabio Coentrao and Nani threatening before Varela wasted a glorious eight-yard opening on 90 minutes, shooting too low and close to Neuer.