PORTUGAL 0 GERMANY 1

Germany 1 Portugal 0: Gomez takes his time but eventually delivers to solve close battl

Mario Gomez scored a magnificent header as Germany battled their way past Portugal to make a winning start to their Euro 2012 campaign.

Portugal's defensive obduracy had frustrated Germany for 72 minutes and Gomez was about to be substituted when he planted Sami Khedira's cross past goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

Suddenly faced with chasing the game, instead of settling for the bore draw, Portugal brought Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani into the game and laid siege on the German goal.

Super Mario: Mario Gomez celebrates after netting the only goal of the game

Take that: Gomez powers his header home

MATCH FACTS

Germany: Neuer, Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Muller (Bender 90), Ozil (Kroos 87), Podolski,
Gomez (Klose 80)
Subs Not Used: Wiese, Gundogan, Schmelzer, Howedes, Schurrle, Mertesacker, Gotze, Reus, Zieler
Booked: Badstuber, Boateng
Goals: Gomez 72

Portugal: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Bruno Alves, Pepe,
Fabio Coentrao, Meireles (Varela 80), Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Nani,
Postiga (Nelson Oliveira 70), Ronaldo.

Subs Not Used: Eduardo, Custodio, Almeida, Quaresma, Ricardo Costa,
Rolando, Ruben Micael, Miguel Lopes, Hugo Viana, Beto

Booked: Postiga, Fabio Coentrao.

Att: 33,951

Ref: Stephane Lannoy (France)

In a barnstorming finish, German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer brilliantly denied Silvestre Varela to seal the victory as Joachim Low's men made a successful start to their quest for a first European crown since 1996.
Germany featured seven Bayern Munich players, all of whom will have felt a daunting sense of deja vu in the first half as Portugal set themselves to soak up the pressure.
Chelsea beat Bayern in the Champions League final a matter of weeks ago using exactly the same, backs-to-the-wall style that some would describe as anti-football.
Although Portugal started with Ronaldo, who has scored 112 goals in 101 appearances for Real Madrid, and Nani they set themselves up to nullify Germany and play for the draw.
Mesut Ozil was the Germany's main attacking threat and the three-times European champions came close to an early goal with a header from striker Mario Gomez.
Helder Postiga won a corner after a run from Fabio Coentrao but Portugal were sitting so deep they lacked any real fluidity in attack. Ronaldo was a spectator for most of the first half.

Stepover king: Cristiano Ronaldo was frustrated by the German defence

Thomas Mueller picked out Arsenal-bound Lucas Podolski, who tried a low first time shot with the outside of his right foot that was easily saved.
Pereira did well to close down Ozil, who had jinked his way into the Portugal box after being released by his Real Madrid team-mate.

Close shave: Pepe's effort hit the bar and bounced out (below)