Euro 2000 Group A - Portugal 3 Germany 0

Portugal ended an era of European football by removing champions Germany from Euro 2000 with three goals from Sergio Conceicao.

The Portuguese made eight changes with a place in the next phase already secure but they were still far too good for a German team that faces complete overhaul in the next three months as they prepare for a 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign.

This is the first time in sixteen years that Germany have failed to reach the knockout phase of an international tournament and Lothar Matthaeus' 150th cap for the national team is symbolic of the end of this era for the nationalmannschaft.

Marco Bode hit the post after an excellent move in the first half but after that chance Germany did not threaten what was in effect the Portuguese second XI.

Matthaeus was involved in the build up as Bode played a one-two with Mehmet Scholl that put him clear on the left edge of the penalty area. His cross shot came back off the post with Baia beaten but Germany were then on a fading mission.

Conceicao followed in a Paulista cross to put Portugal into the lead with a header from close range into the roof of the net.

The second half saw Conceicao cut inside from the right and hit a low drive straight at Oliver Kahn who let the ball through his legs into the net as Germany were all but humiliated.

Conceicao completed the first hat trick of Euro 2000 with a cross shot on the run from the right as Germany's defence fell apart.

Group A with Romania and Portugal ousting traditional powers like the Germans and English has pointed to large scale future changes in the European game. Certainly Germany cannot go on like this much longer.