A goal from the game, a template, a hit in a penalty shootout, just put Lamine Yamal cold: Nuno Mendes was the outstanding player at Portugal’s win of the Nations League.
There have been a lot of absurd decisions in the past big football tournaments. Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo were named players of the game, although others were much better or more important or better and more important. But Messi and Ronaldo are more important and better in the photos with the cup and the logo of the sponsor.
In theory, the Nations League final would also have been possible to make an absurd decision. Ronaldo was there, and the 40-year-old striker also scored a goal, a rather important one, because his 2-2 equalization Portugal brought the extension and ultimately the penalty shootout.
In this act of decision, there could have been an injustice. Nuno Mendes could have fired his penalty. Then Spain might have been the winner of the Nations League, which would not have been so unfair.
With his penalty, Nuno Mendes has the last ball contact in Portugal’s final against Spain
Extremely fair players of the game
But a shot penalty from Mendes might have brooded the jury again. A player of the game, who may shoot the only penalty, that would look a bit stupid.
But on Sunday evening everything went extremely just. Nuno Mendes sank the penalty in the top right at the angle, as if it were as simple as his name was to write. Pentecost Sunday was the day anyway, when everything looked very simple with Nuno Mendes.
Goal to 1-1, template for 2: 2
He sprinted into the penalty area and just shot tightly into the far corner to 1-1. Then he sprinted past Lamine Yamal, flanked in the middle, and Ronaldo shot the new equalizer.
Yes, that evening it even looked like it was just as if it were easy to prevent Lamine Yamal from playing football. Nuno Mendes also managed that.
Nuno Mendes cheered on his goal for the Zwischnzeitliche 1: 1
“It was a duel on the lawn, as many have already existed this season. I was already dealing with many technically experienced players”said Mendes at the press conference with the award for the player of the game.
Now he can also defend
Nuno Mendes is a 22 -year -old left -back who played long left without being able to defend really well. But he can do that now, and that’s why he has already caught a lot of trophies this season.
Championship and and national trophies are with Paris Saint-Germain Rather compulsory, but the triumph in the Champions League, also in Munich eight days earlier through a 5-0 against Inter Milan, the world meant for PSG and the financiers from Qatar.
Stretch the Henkelpott up: Nuno Mendes
Salah, Saka, Sané, Gnabry
Mohamed Salah learned how well Mendes now defended, who by far the best scorer of last season in the Premier Leaguewhen he was in the round of 16 with the sovereign team of the Liverpool FC on the previously largely unsuccessful team of Paris Saint-Germain.
A round later there was a short progress against Aston Villatwo goals contributed to the Mendes. In the semi -finals the French switched the FC Arsenal from because Mendes eliminated the dribbler Bukayo Saka over long distances, even if he scored a goal in the second leg.
In the semi -finals of the Nations League against Germany, it was mainly possible to do with Leroy Sané, who caused him as little problems as the Serge Gnabry, which was later substituted later. Mendes was therefore also voted player of the final tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo should also believe that this is fair.