The press looks critically at the presentation of the DFB team. The focus is on one player in particular: Cristiano Ronaldo, the (old) star of Seleção.
Portugal
Público: “Portugal qualified with a 2-1 victory against Germany for the final of the Nations League and returned to the winning road 25 years after the 3-0 victory at Euro 2000. But this comeback victory only managed to think too much and simplified his game.”
Diario de Noticias: “25 years later, another Conceição helped the team to defeat Germany.”
A Bola: “A quarter of a century after his father Sérgio came Francisco Conceição from the bank and became one of the rare Portuguese heroes in the history of duels with Germany; Ronaldo, in his 40s, took care of the rest.”
Spain
Mundo Deportivo: “1: 2: Cristiano wins his duel with ter Stegen, Portugal prevents Germany in the final. (…) The victory confirms Roberto Martínez as a Portuguese coach, even if in some circles there are doubts about its future.”
Sport: “Cristiano switches off the best step and sends Portugal to the final. (…) The Nagelsmann team was in excellent form before this semi-finals and has only lost one of the last eleven home games: the quarter-finals of the European Championship against La Roja with the impressive goal of Mikel Merino.”
Marca: “Cristiano Ronaldo is worth another final. The first half of the first Nation League semi-final was characterized by the fear of defeat and the fatigue that had accumulated due to an overloaded schedule. The absence of Rüdiger, Musiala … was also felt.”
El País: “The Nagelsmann team had no longer lost in the quarter-finals of the Euro 2024 since the defeat against Spain. Yesterday this series ended without anyone being surprised.”
France
L’équipe: “Portugal, which is technically stronger and has the impetus of its PSG’s champions League winner, reached Germany 2-1 in Munich on Wednesday.”
Le Figaro: “Ronaldo unchangeable, the PSG Portuguese tirelessly, the German team regret.”
Le Parisien: “In a balanced game, Germany missed the chance to secure a final in the Nations League. The Portuguese who turned the game after the leading goal of the Germans dreamed of a victory in the Nations League. He was missed again.”
Italy
Tuttosport: “Conceição, a crazy goal in the Nations League: The Portuguese achieves the balance against Germany! The Juve talent was substituted for Trincao in the 58th minute and achieved the compensation against the Germans (…) thanks to a fabulous five minutes, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s hit to the Lusitan of competition. “
La Rebubblica: “Martínez ‘men have done a feat in Munich: they answered the early goal by Wirtz with goals of the Juventus striker (Conceição) and from CR7, its 137.”
Austria
Small newspaper: “Superstar Ronaldo sealed Germany’s downfall.”
Switzerland
Tages-Anzeiger: “Eternal Cristiano Ronaldo let the German national team dream burst of the first Nation League title with its 137th goal for Portugal.”
View: “Even before the game, there is excitement in Munich. Around 50 minutes before the planned kick -off, the two goalies are disturbed by a storm when warming up. Because of the violent hailstorm, ter Steg and his opposite Costa back to the cabin – the game is kicked out for ten minutes. Goals are not then hailed.