Euro2008: Quarter-final ~ Germany 3 Portugal 2

Germany booked their place in the semi-finals of Euro 2008 by seeing off a below-par Portugal side in Basel. Bastian Schweinsteiger sidefooted in the first and his free-kick created the second for the head of Miroslav Klose.

Nuno Gomes finished from close range to give Portugal hope, but they failed to defend another Schweinsteiger free-kick and Michael Ballack headed their third. Portugal substitute Helder Postiga pulled one back in the dying stages but there was to be no grandstand finish.

Portugal had looked so impressive in qualifying for the knockout stages but Luiz Felipe Scolari's reign ended in disappointing fashion. Scolari, who takes over as Chelsea boss next month, had suggested their lack of height might be exposed by a physically superior German side. But it was a failure to defend set-pieces that proved their downfall.

In contrast, Germany gave an accomplished display despite suspended coach Joachim Low having to watch the game from the stands. They will now face the winners of the Croatia-Turkey quarter-final in the last four and will be strong favourites to progress to the final on this showing.

The selection of Schweinsteiger from the start gave them a spark that was missing from their group games. He gave them the lead when he got ahead of Paulo Ferreira to burst into the box and steer home a cross from Lukas Podolski, after he had combined well with Ballack down the left channel. Germany made it two goals in four minutes when Schweinsteiger's curling free-kick was perfect for Klose to head past Ricardo.

It was Cristiano Ronaldo who looked to be the guilty party in allowing Klose a free run at goal.