Bastian Schweinsteiger gave Germany 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 withCaptain Michael Ballack down the left channel.

Germany made it two goals in four minutes when Schweinsteiger's curling free-kick was perfect for Miroslav Klose to head past goalkeeper Ricardo.

Striker Nino Gomes pulled one back - to make him only the third player in the history of the competition to score in three different finals - after 40 minutes to offer Luiz Felipe Scolari the springboard for a second half revival.

The Portuguese paid for their profligacy when Ballack met Schweinsteiger's free-kick from the left and - with the help of a shove in the back of his Chelsea team-mate Paulo Ferreira - made space to head past Ricardo in the 62nd minute.

Podolski almost made it 4-1 12 minutes from time when his fierce long-range drive whizzed just past the right-hand post with Ricardo merely an onlooker.

The game got the thrilling climax that it deserved when Nani crossed for fellow substitute Postiga to head in three minutes from the end.

But there was to be no fairytale ending to Scolari's impressive coaching career with the Portuguese.

Three-times world champions Germany will take on either Croatia or Turkey which play against each other on June 20.