Between an announced goodbye, Martínez said hello

João Neves at right back with Nelson Semedo and Diogo Dalot on the bench, Vitinha out to make way for Rúben Neves with Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes in midfield, Francisco Trincão and Pedro Neto ahead of Rafael Leão. When Portugal's starting eleven against Germany in the Nations League semi-final was announced , some people went from website to website confirming their options while others were still trying to figure out what tactical scheme the team would use. Roberto Martínez explained his choices openly to RTP and SportTV. Whether you agree or not, the coach took the risk of looking at the Final Four as a whole, adapting his strategy to the opponent he would face in the final, avoiding what could be seen as political correctness and achieving his greatest achievement since taking office.

Despite starting at a disadvantage, Portugal managed to turn the game around in five minutes with goals from Francisco Conceição and Cristiano Ronaldo and beat the Mannschaft for the second time in history on German soil, sealing the fourth final of the Seleção A where they will face Spain after the crazy game with France (Sunday, 8pm). In the week in which he saw newspaper headlines almost anticipating a farewell , the coach said hello to the possibility of winning his first title with a national team, something he never managed to do in six years in Belgium. The question is: after Sunday, where will he be between hello and goodbye?

Earlier, and in the week that marked Pedro Proença's first 100 days in charge of the Football Federation , the U-17 team was crowned European champion for the third time, "avenging" the 2024 defeat against Italy with a categorical victory against France . Rafael Quintas was the MVP and led a group of 20 players coached by former international Bino Maçães . In the opposite direction, and on the eve of their third consecutive appearance at the European Championship, the women's A team lost to England and Belgium and was relegated back to League B of the Nations League, as had happened in the first edition of the competition.

Here, with the club season ending with a flourish by PSG, who thrashed Inter in the Champions League final on an emotional night for Luis Enrique , the “big boys” are on different levels. At FC Porto, Gabri Veiga was confirmed as a reinforcement for the Club World Cup , with an investment of 15 million euros (plus four million depending on objectives) for 90% of the transfer fee. At Benfica, the current topic of discussion is the elections, with João Noronha Lopes presenting his candidacy to a full house before the General Assembly this Saturday at Luz, which should include other names confirmed or on the verge of being confirmed, such as João Diogo Manteigas, Mauro Xavier, Cristóvão Carvalho and Martim Mayer (in addition to the current leader, Rui Costa). Finally, at Sporting, the biggest point of interest these days has been… the works at the José Alvalade Stadium.

In Paris, Roland Garros confirms that it is a Mecca for clay courts – and that there is more life after Nadal, although it is not the same. Nuno Borges and Henrique Rocha were unable to extend their presence beyond the third round, but the matches show tennis at the highest level, with Carlos Alcaraz facing Lorenzo Musetti this Friday after “running over” Tommy Paul and, later, Jannik Sinner having an extra challenge as number 1 in the ranking against the king of Grand Slams, Novak Djokovic, who beat Sascha Zverev in the quarter-finals . The final will take place on Sunday from 1:45 pm. In the women’s draw, Coco Gauff ended the fairy tale of the unknown Frenchwoman Lois Boisson and will now face the number 1 in the world, Aryna Sabalenka, who beat the favourite Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals (Saturday, from 1:45 pm).

Still in the sports, which have this weekend the Aragon Grand Prix in MotoGP (sprint on Saturday at 2pm, race on Sunday at 1pm), attention turns to the pavilions: Benfica and FC Porto start the final of the Basketball League, with game 1 on Sunday (4.30pm) and game 2 on Tuesday (2pm); Sporting and FC Porto dispute the final of the Portuguese Handball Cup after the green and white triumph in the classic that closed the Championship (Saturday, 5pm); there are games 2 and 3, if necessary, in the semi-finals of the Futsal League playoff , with Benfica-Sp. Braga this Friday (9pm) and Sporting-Leões de Porto Salvo on Saturday (8.30pm); There are games 4 and 5, if necessary, in the semi-finals of the Roller Hockey Championship, with another FC Porto-Sporting (Saturday, 2:30 pm) and Óquei de Barcelos-Benfica (Saturday, 9:30 pm). Only volleyball has a closed season at club level, with the National Team now taking part in the European Golden League.