The Portuguese team beat Spain on Sunday (8), 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time and was a two-time champion of the UEFA League (Union of European Football Associations). With the triumph, Cristiano Ronaldo’s team again won a title six years after raising the trophy of the tournament’s debut edition in 2019.
The match at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany ended 2-2 after Spain gave the draw twice. Zubimendi and Oyarzabal scored, and Portugal equaled first with Nuno Mendes and then with Ronaldo, replaced in the last minutes of the final stage. On penalties, Álvaro Morata stopped in the defense of Diogo Costa and Portugal, who converted all charges, took the cup.
Created by the European entity to reduce the amount of friendly friendly, the tournament takes place every two years and its early stages help define European World Cup qualifying groups, which are already being played.
The expectation of a fierce dispute between the attacks-one side led by veteran Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, who currently defends the Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr, and another headed by Lamine Yamal, a 17-year-old star of Barcelona-became chances to both sides, although the Spaniard played a shy game.
Portugal started the match with a high marking, but soon Spain managed to increase possession and improve ball dominion. The first opportunity came with Pedri, 15 minutes, who kicked out after playing at Nico Williams speed. Nico himself, Athletic Bilbao’s left-wing, tried a finish that passed near the crossbar.
The score was opened at 21, in a weird move from the Portuguese defender, which failed to take the ball out of the area and left the leftover to Zubimndi, the wheel of Real Sociedad. Less than five minutes later, Nuno Mendes, PSG side, tied with a beautiful left -handed kick, which stopped inside the left corner of Unai Simón’s goal.
The Spaniards returned in front of the score at 44, when Pedri served to striker Oyarzabal, also of Real Sociedad, who played Diogo Costa’s departure and scored another goal in finals – it was also the decisive goal against England by the Euro and the final of the 2021 nations, won by France.
Better after the break, Portugal had a goal annulled by impediment three minutes into the second stage, but the draw really came at 15: in another good move by Nuno Mendes, the ball sneezed in the defender and left for Cristiano Ronaldo to puff the net on the right foot and reach the number 138 for the Portuguese shirt.
Spain still had a good chance with a kick from outside the bait area at 37, but stopped in the defense of Diogo Costa.
Without changes in the score during extension, the champion was defined on penalties. Diogo Costa was decisive in taking the charge of Álvaro Morata. It was up to Rúben Neves the beat that sagged Portugal two -time champion – Cristiano Ronaldo did not hit because he was replaced at the end of the second half for physical wear.
To reach the decision, Portugal defeated the hostess Germany in the semifinal. Wirtz scored for the Germans, Francisco Conceição tied and Ronaldo scored the second goal.
Already Spain went through France in a busy game of nine goals. Williams, Merino, Yamal and Pedri scored and the Spanish team even opened 4-0 in the other semifinal. The French rehearsed a reaction, which ended up insufficient to the turn, and the game ended 5 to 4.
France won third place against Germany. Also this Sunday, the dispute ended 2-0 for visitors, with Mbappé and Olise, in Stuttgart.
