Portugal lifts the second league of nations already put in the world dream

Portugal is again champion of the League of Nations. A victory of the race and emotion, won only in the penalties, before the neighboring European champion Spain, who increases the Portuguese peculio in senior football.

The unprecedented conquest of the European in 2016 remains the biggest achievement in national football history, but two leagues of nations, the first in 2019, in Porto, and the second on Sunday in Munich, will not be able to be undervalued.

It is a fact that won the League of Nations is not as prestigious as winning a European, let alone a World Cup, but that is not why it should be underestimated to win a demanding competition in the face of the best European teams.

A trophy is a trophy, and it is this ambition that can lead Portugal to levels that never arrived. The World Cup is there at the door and next summer the desire of course: to be in the fight for the most important scepter of the sport, in the level of teams.

The application was made and should not be overlooked. Win the League of Nations in the ‘Final Four’ with teams such as Spain, France and Germany, also driving Denmark away along the way, in the rooms, is meritorious and demonstrative of quality.

At age 40, Captain Cristiano Ronaldo further increases his legend, unquestionably being the largest symbol and the largest Portuguese ambassador in the world, and still contributing on the field with relevant goals on this walk.

“Winning for Portugal is always special. I have many individual titles for clubs and there is nothing better than winning for Portugal. They are tears with duty accomplished and a lot of joy,” said Ronaldo, who suffered a lot during penalties.

Dream Week The Spaniards were twice in the scorer, through Martín Zubimendi (21 minutes) and Mikel Oyarzabal (45), but the Portuguese were always able to react, thanks to the goals of Nuno Mendes (26) and Cristiano Ronaldo (61).

CR7 thus lifted another trophy, being the only Portuguese present in all finals in which Portugal was present, in history, with only one lost: the euro2004, in the middle of Luz, Lisbon, against Greece (1-0).

However, the biggest highlight has to go to Nuno Mendes, elected by Uefa as the best player in the final and ‘Final Four’, who completely trivialized the rising star Lamine Yamal, who, at 17, is already one of the candidates for the Golden Ball.

« It’s the most special and the best week of my career. I won the first champions league for Paris Saint-Germain and today the first title for Portugal. It has a special meaning. I am very happy, » recalled the Portuguese footballer.

Nuno Mendes lives a week of dream, along with colleagues João Neves, Vitinha and Gonçalo Ramos, when joining the League of Nations to the Champions League victory for Paris Saint-Germain, with the particularity of both of them in the same place.

Allianz Arena, a usual Bayern Munich’s house, became an unforgettable place for the Portuguese, although not on the scale of Stade de France in Paris, when the hero Éder jumped from the bank to score the most iconic goal in Portuguese football.

With the 2-2 tied duel, and without further goals during the extension, the winner’s decision went to the penalties, with the five Luso players to realize their charges and Diogo Costa to deny the goal of Álvaro Morata.

Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Nuno Mendes and Rúben Neves were responsible for the penalties, all successfully, while Mikel Merino, Alex Baena and Isco marked the first three and Morata decided, but in favor of the Portuguese.

“My focus at that moment was to raise the aura and help us each other. I am very happy. It was not just my defense. All the penalties of our part were well beaten. We are very happy to ensure this trophy,” said Diogo Costa.

Mourinho and Jesus are past

Despite the various criticisms of Roberto Martínez, the conquest of this competition is closed the possibility of changing the coach before the World Cup2026, with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation to ensure its continuity.

« It has a contract until 2026 and, although we have not made the contracts, the management will be compliant of the signatures. We are pleased with the work of the coach and the ‘mister’ knew what we thought about his work, » he said.

Pedro Proença’s election for the federation’s leadership, succeeding Fernando Gomes, has made doubt about a possible technical change, with the names of José Mourinho and Jorge Jesus appeared on the table, but now it is past.

João Neves’s placement is the right defense in the two ‘Final Four’ games increased the range of criticism of the Spanish coach, and with justifications for it, because it did not work at all and made no sense, but Portugal even had this victory.

“I am proud and it is a responsibility to be the Portuguese coach and these players. We had the values ​​of the Portuguese people: resilience, the fight, the believer. It is a pleasure to be able to give the cup to our supporters,” said Roberto Martínez.