Germany marched into the last four of Euro 2008 after Portugal pressed the self-destruct button in a five-goal thriller of a quarter-final on Thursday, according to AFP.

Goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack earned Joachim Loew`s side a 3-2 win that sets up a semi-final meeting with either Croatia or Turkey.

Nuno Gomes and Helder Postiga replied for the Portuguese but they were always trailing and, only briefly did it look like they could reclaim control of a match they had been widely expected to win.

Видео дня

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari`s worst pre-match fears were all realised as Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco and the rest of Portugal`s wonderful array of attacking talent was cruelly let down by the woeful defending and goalkeeping that contributed to all three German goals.

Loew said that having to watch from a box up in the stands as he was suspended had been extremely frustrating.

AFP