Four freshly baked winners of the Champions League play at the German opponent in the Nations League. Three of them were decisive – and they will also be in the fight for the final.
Paris celebrated, France celebrated – and Portugal also felt like the winner. The Champions League triumph by Paris St. Germain (5-0 in the final against Inter Milan) was also that of the German opponent in the semi-finals of the final Four in the Nations League. Vitinha, the PSG clock, also gave the tone after the game. He posted a photo with his compatriots Joao Neves, Nuno Mendes and Goncalo Ramos, wrote: “Portugal Saint Germain”.
“World-class level”“Maestro” – everyone raves about Vitinha
The DFB team will be dealing with a very large portion of royal class self-confidence. Vitinha will particularly be the player who will be guided by good and woe in this game. Inter made the mistake in the Champions League and let the midfielder act.
The receipt: Vitinha controlled, dictated, made pace, when and how he wanted, the pace throttled when and how he wanted. He played the brilliant pass before 1-0, preparing it 3-0.
Michael Ballack was thrilled after the game: “Vitinha was the absolute key player. It was close to perfection because he not only finds solutions with a ball, but he combines everything a modern six-class level has to play.” And there are also fans in the DFB team. “The Portuguese players who play at Paris are of very high quality. I think a lot of Vitinha”Niclas Füllkrug had already said before the Champions League gala.
Even more convincing of the 25-year-old’s skills is his national coach Roberto Martinez. The designated Vitinha in March as “Maestro of European football. He holds the wand in his hand, is undoubtedly one of the best midfielder in the world.” Martinez took a little time to develop his enthusiasm, only for about a year Vitinha has been with him.
Sportschau, 04.06.2025 8:59 p.m.
May Joao Neves also in the National team show his class?
Joao Neves has an even more serious stand with the Portugal coach, which has a soft spot for experienced players. The incomprehension at home was great when Martinez only sporadically set up the teenager at the time, who had played an outstanding season at Benfica Lisbon, only sporadically at the European Championship last year. In Paris, too, one was more convincing of the qualities, 60 million euros were made to change the 19-year-old costs at that time.
What the new Champions League winner got for it is a six that harmonizes perfectly with Vitinha and forms a midfield that brings the opponents to despair. Both players cannot be separated from the ball and make almost no mistakes. Neves is the robust part for this, he won over 64 percent of his duels in Ligue 1 this season, despite his small height (1.74 meters) he has the same quota in head duels.
Neves and Vitinha – poison and art
Vitinha is the playmaker, Neves his poisonous company. In the Champions League, the 20-year-old committed the most fouls of all players and only his teammates Pacho and Marquinhos have conquered more balls from the opponent. The question, which Neves now arises, is how much Martinez is now. At least in the team internal competition, the conviction is already convinced that they can get a place in the midfield for these services.
“Our national team has a lot of quality, as the Champions League final showed. We always focus on doing our best in the field and not being too high. I believe in my qualities, but Joao Neves and Vitinha are currently two of the best midfielder in the world”said Ruben Neves. He would like to act in the center, but normally he cannot avoid the PSG duo.
Nuno Mendes is now the overall package
And there is also no way to get past the Paris left -back Nuno Mendes. The 22-year-old has always been admired for his pace and qualities in the dribbling, but now he has not only minimized his mistakes on the ball, but has great qualities on the defensive. Mendes has a huge urge forward, but no longer forgets the look back. He has as many ball winnings in the Champions League as Neves.
However, there is a small question mark behind Mendes for the Nation’s League meeting with Germany. In the Champions League, he bit his teeth together despite physical problems. “It was the last game, the game we wanted to win. I held out until I was replaced”he said. A failure would be a huge weakening for the DFB opponent. Because the less “Portugal Saint-Germain”, the better for Germany.