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Germany vs Portugal Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League | Semi-Final

by Alex Lawes · May 28 2025, 15:58
Updated June 4 2025, 17:30
Germany vs Portugal Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League | Semi-Final
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In what is a heavyweight final four of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League, the first-semi-final is between Germany and 2019 winners of the competition Portugal, taking place at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – TBC / US – FOX Sports

How to watch online: UK – TBC / US – FOX Sports streaming platforms

Germany Preview: German rebuild

Following their quarter-final exit from UEFA EURO 2024, which they hosted, Germany were forced into a rebuild with several high-profile international retirements such as Manuel Neuer, Ilkay Gundogan, Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller but Die Mannschaft have done it well.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side came through a thrilling UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie against Italy in March, winning the first-leg by two goals to one in Milan before throwing away a three-goal lead in the second-leg, still coming out on top by five goals to four on aggregate.

Portugal Preview: Stagnant Portuguese

Former Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez remains at the helm of the Portugal national side and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo remains as their captain, despite the 40-year-old recently hinting at his probable departure from Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.

Between tournaments, the Portuguese are often one of, if not the, best teams in international football and they have once again been strong since a woefully underwhelming UEFA EURO 2024 campaign, whereby they were knocked out by France on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Germany Team News: Fresher Germans

Germany’s Bundesliga season has been over for a few weeks and only four of their selected squad play outside of the country so they should be a bit fresher. They are without Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller, though, who has had to withdraw through injury.

Now first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, following the retirement of Neuer, has missed pretty much all of Barcelona’s double-winning campaign but he has returned in time for the UEFA Nations League finals. 

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ter Stegen; Kimmich, Tah, Anton, Mittelstadt; Goretzka, Gross; Sane, Musiala, Wirtz; Undav

Unavailable: Rudiger (Injured), Stiller (Injured)

Questionable: 

Portugal Team News: Fully fit

Portugal have selected their strongest possible squad with no major injury concerns for this clash with Germany. The issue from last summer was an inability to play fluent and effective football with Cristiano Ronaldo up-front but the veteran remains likely to lead his nation. 

They do have a few key players playing in Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final, such as Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes – but with it being at the same venue, they may well push through.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Costa; Diogo Dalot, A. Silva, Dias, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha; B. Silva, Fernandes, Leao; Cristiano Ronaldo

Unavailable: 

Questionable: 

Key Stats

  • Germany have won the last five international matches between these teams. Since a 3-0 victory for Portugal in the group stage at EURO 2000. This is their first meeting in the UEFA Nations League.
  • Their last encounter in a competitive knockout match was Germany’s 3-2 win in the quarter-finals of EURO 2008.
  • Germany are through to the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League for the first time.
  • This is Germany’s first semi-final since the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup when they defeated Mexico on their way to winning the competition.
  • Germany are unbeaten in their last nine UEFA Nations League matches (W5 D4).
  • Germany have lost only two of their last 21 UEFA Nations League matches (W8 D11).
  • Germany have lost only one of their previous 12 UEFA Nations League matches in Germany (W5 D6).
  • Germany have lost only one of their last 17 international matches (W11 D5).
  • Joshua Kimmich could make his 100th appearance for Germany and Serge Gnabry could make his 50th (in the home stadium of their club).
  • Portugal are through their second UEFA Nations League semi-final. In 2019 they defeated Switzerland 3-1 at this stage of the competition with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a hat-trick.
  • Portugal have lost only one of their previous eight UEFA Nations League matches in the current edition (W5 D2).
  • Excluding penalty shoot-outs, Portugal have lost only four of their last 28 international matches (W20 D4).

Germany vs Portugal Prediction

Julian Nagelsmann is known for his intense, high energy style of football and that is the way that the four-time world champions will be expected to build into the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer. They face a Portugal side that are often more deliberate under Roberto Martinez but can then often become quite stodgy and stuck. The form of Vitinha and Joao Neves means that should be different moving forward, but the fact they will have just played in the UEFA Champions League final may lessen their impact. Given that, siding with the Germans at home looks a good bet for what may turn into quite a fun watch – as it was when they faced off in Munich during the group stages of UEFA EURO 2020.

Germany vs Portugal Tip: Germany to win & both teams to score

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