Nations League: Nuno Mendes takes Portugal to the top by overturning Spain
Led by a brilliant Nuno Mendes, Portugal overturned Spain to win on penalties on Sunday, June 8, in the Nations League final after falling behind twice, knocking the European champions off their pedestal.
Portugal is the first nation to win the Nations League twice, a new competition that has been contested every two seasons since 2018-19. The Seleçao won the inaugural edition in 2019. France in 2021 and Spain in 2023 also won the title.
On Sunday, after a thrilling penalty shootout, Ruben Neves secured victory for his team, wrong-footing Unai Simon at the foot of the Portuguese fans' stands. Just before that, Alvaro Morata had seen his effort saved by Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who gifted a shot to the title, which Neves converted.
With Paris Saint-Germain, Nuno Mendes left the Allianz Arena eight days ago with the Champions League in his hands. On Sunday, he was one of four Parisians lined up at kickoff (along with his Portuguese teammates Vitinha and Joao Neves, and Fabian Ruiz for the Spanish side), but it was he who delivered a classy performance, an ever-present on the left wing.
Above all, he was able to control the fire of Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old prodigy who caused so much suffering for France in the semi-finals three days ago in Stuttgart (5-4 with a brace and an assist). But he also contributed offensively, multiplying the back-and-forths in his flank, making life hell for the Spanish defense.
The Deliverance of Ruben NevesThe Portuguese full-back equalised five minutes after Martin Zubimendi's Spain opener, with a powerful left-footed strike that left Unai Simon with no chance for Portugal's first shot on target.
And while Portugal conceded a second goal in the last minute of the first extra time through Mikel Oyarzabal (45th), it was once again the Parisian left-back who made the difference on his side to overwhelm Yamal and Oscar Mingueza and break away.
His cross was blocked, but at the far post, Cristiano Ronaldo got the better of Marc Cucurella, who was once again roundly booed by the German crowd (his handball, which was not whistled at in the quarter-final of Euro 2024 against Germany, still doesn't go down well) to equalise for the Seleçao a second time.
The long celebrations of the Champions League title did not seem to have affected Nuno Mendes's physique, as it was he who once again caused danger in the Spanish box at the start of extra time, with a perfect low cross for Nelson Semedo, who missed the target. Seven minutes later, he once again passed the entire Spanish defense before falling in the box, exhausted.
He found the resources and composure to perfectly score Portugal's fourth penalty just before Morata failed to save and Ruben Neves was saved. He was then logically named man of the match.
Physically exhausted, Cristiano Ronaldo left the pitch just before the start of extra time, sitting out the match on the bench. At Euro 2016, won at the Stade de France, he was injured in the first half and actively watched the match on the bench alongside his then-coach, Fernando Santos. The outcome was the same on Sunday evening in the mild Bavarian climate.
Portugal had already upset Germany in the semi-finals, trailing 1-0 early in the second half before equalising and taking the lead to advance 2-1.
The World with AFP
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