James Dall feels Germany are peaking at just the right time as they progressed to the semi-finals of Euro 2008.
James Dall reflects on a gutsy Germany display that downed Scolari's Portugal
Cast under the domineering gaze of coach Joachim Low, Germany struck a fine balance between efficiency and expression as they progressed to the semi-finals of Euro 2008 at Portugal's expense.
Low, banned by Uefa after his dispute against Austria, watched on from the stands as Bastian Schweinsteiger more than atoned for his petulant retaliation to Jerko Leko's challenge in the Group B game versus Croatia.
Bayern Munich midfielder Schweinsteiger returned from suspension to deliver an all-action display, breaking the deadlock before laying goals on a plate for Miroslav Klose and then Michael Ballack.
Schweinsteiger is expected to remain at the Allianz Arena, however, on this showing, I would not be surprised to see a top-flight side from England take a gamble on this obviously gifted but temperamental 23-year-old.
Battering ram
Ballack was uncompromising, like a battering ram in the middle of the park as he mirrored the excellent form he demonstrated in the latter stages of last season with Chelsea.
Deco, linked with a move to Luiz Felipe Scolari's Chelsea, trotted about the field in impressive fashion, and proved at 30-years-old his footballing brain has matured richly.
Where he would fit in The Blues' current system I do not know, but what I am certain of is that his range of pin-point passing would add much to any side in the world.
As for Chelsea's Jose Bosingwa, the £16.2million signing demonstrated the glaring Jekyll & Hyde features of his game; blistering in attack but meagre in defence.
There is no question that The Blues must fully free the influential Michael Essien from right-back, and while Bosingwa offers a snarling beast of a player when bombing forward, his fragility at the back should concern the Stamford Bridge faithful.
Fits and starts
Paulo Ferreira, who looks set to play second fiddle to Bosingwa next term, squirmed in an uncomfortable left-back role while centre-back Ricardo Carvalho was unusually out-of-sorts on a difficult night for the Portuguese defence.
Real Madrid target Cristiano Ronaldo, who must now stand by his promise and tell us all where his future lies, largely encapsulated Portugal's evening as he shone in fits and starts, while Manchester United's Nani came off the bench to deliver for his country's late consolation - which was dispatched by former Tottenham Hotspur striker Helder Postiga.
Lukas Podolski, who recently claimed Spurs are monitoring his situation at Bayern, was sharp early on, as demonstrated by his assist for the opener, but faded as the game wore on.
In summary, it was gutsy encounter that saw the Germans let their attacking persona off the leash. Low's men are likely to face more of the same when they come up against either Croatia or Turkey in the semis, and I would not bet against them to reach Sunday's final in Vienna.
