Cristiano Ronaldo’s team wins another title six years after lifting the trophy in the first edition of the tournament, in 2019
The Portuguese team beat 西班牙, this Sunday (8/6), 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time and became the two-time champion of the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Nations League. With the victory, Cristiano Ronaldo’s team wins another title six years after lifting the trophy in the first edition of the tournament, in 2019.
The match at the Allianz Arena, in Munich, Germany, ended 2-2 after Spain conceded the equalizer twice. Zubimendi and Oyarzabal scored, and Portugal equalized first with Nuno Mendes and then with Ronaldo, who was substituted in the last minutes of the final stage. In the penalty shootout, Álvaro Morata was stopped by Diogo Costa’s save and Portugal, who converted all their shots, took the trophy. Created by the European entity to reduce the number of friendlies without competitive value, the tournament takes place every two years and its initial stages help define the groups for the European Qualifiers for the World Cup, which are already being played.
The expectation of a fierce dispute between the attacks — on one side led by veteran Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, who currently plays for Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia, and on the other headed by Lamine Yamal, a 17-year-old star for Barcelona — turned into chances for both sides, although the Spaniard had a timid game.
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Guardiola, wearing the Brescia jersey, in a dispute with Rivaldo, then a Milan striker, in 2003 (photo: FELICE CALABRO/AFP)
Portugal started the match with a high marking, but soon Spain managed to increase possession and improve ball control. The first opportunity came from Pedri, in the 15th minute, who shot wide after a fast play by Nico Williams. Nico himself, left winger for Athletic Bilbao, tried a shot that went just wide of the crossbar. The score was opened in the 21st minute, in a strange play by the Portuguese defense, who failed to clear the ball from the area and left the rebound to Zubimendi, Real Sociedad midfielder. Less than five minutes later, Nuno Mendes, PSG full-back, tied the game with a beautiful left-footed shot that stopped in the left corner of Unai Simón’s goal. The Spanish took the lead again in the 44th minute, when Pedri passed to Real Sociedad striker Oyarzabal, who slotted past Diogo Costa and scored yet another goal in the finals—he also scored the decisive goal against England in the European Championship and in the 2021 Nations League final, won by France. Portugal played better after the break, with a goal disallowed for offside three minutes into the second half, but the equalizer came in the 15th minute: in another good play by Nuno Mendes, the ball bounced off the defense and fell to Cristiano Ronaldo, who slammed it into the net with his right foot and scored his 138th goal for Portugal. Spain also had a good chance with a shot from outside the area by Isco in the 37th minute, but was saved by Diogo Costa. With no changes to the scoreboard during extra time, the champion was decided on penalties. Diogo Costa was decisive when he saved Álvaro Morata’s shot. It was Rúben Neves who scored the shot that crowned Portugal the two-time champion — Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t take the shot because he was substituted late in the second half due to physical fatigue.
To reach the final, Portugal defeated the host Germany in a comeback in the semifinal. Wirtz scored for the Germans, Francisco Conceição tied the game and Ronaldo scored the second goal. Spain beat France in a tense game with nine goals. Williams, Merino, Yamal and Pedri scored and the Spanish team opened up a 4-0 lead in the other semifinal. The French tried to fight back, but it was not enough to turn the game around, and the game ended 5-4. France won third place against Germany. Also on Sunday, the match ended 2-0 for the visitors, with Mbappé and Olise scoring, in Stuttgart.
