Portugal pounce for pole position

Portugal on top
Both these sides drew their openers 1-1 on Thursday; Portugal held by Greece, Germany meeting group hosts the Republic of Ireland. Germany had the better of the early play today but Portugal struck on 68 minutes when a Januário Jesus cross was headed in by Nuno Reis. Although Germany continued to press, they lost substitute Patrick Hermann to a 70th-minute red card for a foul on Mario Duarte, and Portugal exploited that one-man advantage when Januário broke and set up substitute Rui Caetano to head a second. That goal took Portugal to the top of the group as their Tuesday opponents Ireland lost 2-1 to Greece. Germany must beat Greece by a three-goal margin and hope Ireland defeat Portugal by a smaller scoreline to have any chance of travelling to Turkey for the finals in May.