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6/9/12

EURO 2012: Germany squeaks by Portugal, Denmark shocks Netherlands

Mario Gomez made a surprise start and headed in the lone goal for Germany on Saturday in a 1-0 victory over Portugal in Group B of the European Championship.

Gomez was moments away from being substituted, with Miroslav Klose already waiting on the touchline, when he rose to knock in a deflected cross from Sami Khedira in the 72nd minute.

Germany coach Joachim Loew delayed the substitution and Gomez nearly got another goal before Klose finally came on in the 80th and got to play on his 34th birthday.

Denmark secured the first huge surprise of the European Championship with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands on Saturday in Group B.

And it was Michael Krohn-Dehli that provided the lethal finishing that the Dutch inexplicably lacked.

Denmark, seen as the outsider in the toughest group of the championship, can take a huge step to the quarterfinals by beating Portugal in their second game.

“We know the Dutch, they can be very dominating,” Denmark coach Morten Olsen said. “If you get scared of them, they play really good football. I think we played them in the right way.”

“I refuse to throw in the towel,” Van Marwijk said. “We must beat Germany. We have done that before.”

For more: EURO 2012: Germany squeaks by Portugal, Denmark shocks Netherlands

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