Portugal won the Nations League again after 2019. The team of the Spanish coach Roberto Martinez defeated Spain 5: 3 in a penalty shootout on Sunday evening. After the regular playing time, including an extension, it had been 2-2.
Cristiano Ronaldo could no longer hold back his tears after the last converted penalty. At the age of 40, he had not only achieved the winning goal against Germany at the final tournament, but also contributed to Spain with a goal that Portugal remained in the game against dominant Spaniards. He nervously pursued the penalty as a substitute player, facing the face of the game, his arms supported his player colleagues. After the winning goal, he let his emotions run free, tearflows ran over his face.
“The fighting spirit and the cohesion were crucial today”said Bruno Fernandes at RTL, “If we stick together like this, we are very difficult to beat.”
Previously, Martín Zubimendi used a rebound for Spanish leadership (21st) in the middle of the first section of the game, Nuno Mendes was able to compensate for five minutes later. Both goals were checked by the VAR, including the third goal shortly before the break. Mikel Oyarzabal used a wonderful pass from Pedri (45th). After the break, Cristiano Ronaldo equalized in his 222nd international match with good torriachers (61.). After a goalless extension, Alvaro Morata, who had substituted late, first missed Spain, but Ruben Neves converted the decisive penalty.
Portugal’s good start
The Portuguese seemed better to get into the game without being able to profit from it. For this, the Spaniards opened the scoring opportunities: Nico Williams fit the ball in the middle onto the free-standing Pedri, who dropped past the goal from about 14 meters right (15th).
The Spanish lead goal fell consequently when the ball was played unhappily in search of Oyarzabal by Rúben Dias in front of the feet of Zubimendi, which did not miss the chance from five meters of gate removal.
Philipp Hofmeister, Sportschau, June 8, 2025 11:58 p.m.
Portugal looks up quickly
Portugal was not shocked. Via Ronaldo and Bruno Neto, the ball left half -left at Nuno Mendes, who dribbled into the penalty area and turned left into the far corner. An actual goal for the Spaniards.
Because now the Spaniards’ dominance was broken. Portugal’s defensive had Yamal, Williams and Oyarzabal under control. But then not all Spanscshen players.
Because when Pedri recognized the alley for Oyarzabel shortly before the break and played perfectly into the course of the attacker, the opening goal for Coach Luis de la Fuente’s team fell.
Ruben Neves and Nelson Semedo bring fresh wind
For the second half, Portugal’s Spanish coach Roberto Martínez brought two fresh forces with Ruben Neves and Nelson Semedo, which did very well with the Selecao game. This quickly became apparent in a class hit by Bruno Fernandes, who gave Unai Simon no chance in the Spanish goal. But Pedro Neto, with whom Fernandes had played a double pass, was offside.
Spain was subsequently too defensive. Bruno Mendes sprinted largely unnoticed on the left and fit sharply flat inside. However, the ball unintentionally converted Ruben slide into an arched lamp that fell exactly in front of the feet of CR7. He cleared the way against Marc Cucurella and shot from a short distance.
Isco with comeback after six years
A quarter of an hour before the end of the regular season, the Spanish fans benevolently accompanied the comeback from Isco, who gave his comeback in the furia Roja after six years.
And that Isco, now under contract with Betis Sevilla, ensured the first goal of the Spaniards in the second round in the 83rd, which remained significantly behind the expectations of the fans for a high -class finale: Isco took a measure and forced Diogo Costa to an air show that the Portuguese national keeper completed.
Game is increasingly flattening
Even in the extension, the quality of the final did not improve significantly. The biggest excitement in the first half of the extension was a pack formation, triggered by Nuno Mendes: Spain accused the striker of having struck a penalty with a swallow, and there were even several violent bumps. But the Swiss referee Sandro Schärer quickly brought the situation under control.
Rafael Leao struggled on Portugal’s left side and wanted to take care of it – but Spain had the highly talented offensive man under control. In the added time of the extension, Diogo Jota missed the winning goal in a header.
Pens shooting: Portugal nerve -wrackers
In the penalty shootout, the shooters of both teams were nervous – neither Simon nor Costa were only near the shots. Until Isco competed: For the first time, the Portuguese keeper had his fingertips on the sharply kicked ball.
But then veteran Alvaro Morata went to the point. The captain shot downwards, Costa parried the shot. Portugal wins the Nations League 2025.
Death of a fan overshadow the final
The game was overshadowed by the death of a fan, which had fallen on the press grandstand for previously unknown reasons from the middle rank of the arena.