When the moment came, Cristiano Ronaldo hid his face and leant on his international teammates. Over on the touchline at the Allianz Arena he couldn’t watch but he heard the roar as Rúben Neves scored the penalty that took Portugal to the title and then the tears came. It had taken a shoot out but Portugal have their second Nations League, defeating Spain in Munich. He had scored the goal that helped them get that far, been forced to make made way with minutes remaining, listened to the tension as Álvaro Morata missed and Unai Simón could not save the last kick, then off he went to collect the trophy, his 34th at 40 years of age.
It had been a long night, and if it was a battle of the generations, between him and Lamine Yamal, he had won it. In truth, though, this had been about many more men than them. About Mikel Oyarzabal and Martin Zubimendi, Nuno Mendes too. And in the end, about Diogo Costa who saved Spain’s fourth penalty and Neves who scored Portugal’s fifth.
Advertisement
Related: Portugal beat Spain on penalties to win Nations League final – as it happened
It wasn’t long before Lamine Yamal threatened, getting the better of Nuno Mendes, evading a reckless challenge from Bernardo Silva that was a penalty in waiting, and eventually getting taken down by Bruno Fernandes on the edge of the area. The free-kick flew over but the way they had dived in on the teenager said something of the threat he carries and the fear felt; it also turned out to be significant, drawing opponents, the ball and the play in, as if the pitch was tilted his way like a snooker table with a slope, and leaving a free wing over on the other side.
Whether a plan or a happy coincidence, from the touchline Luis de la Fuente was shouting at his players to switch it and when Spain were able to, attracting their opponents in and then hitting the space it left, the advantage was clear. Not least because João Neves found himself exposed and struggling. A superb long diagonal from Dean Huijsen saw Nico Williams control brilliantly, dash into the Portuguese area and pull back for Pedri to side-foot just wide. Then a moment later, another quick switch had Williams cutting inside and whipping a shot fractionally past the far post.
That was not the only place where Portugal were drawn in and when Oyarzabal tempted them back towards his own half, another lovely subtle touch from the Real Sociedad forward turned them and cut them open, leaving Martin Zubimendi running through. He found Lamine Yamal whose chipped return ball in wasn’t dealt with by Rúben Dias, Neves, or goalkeeper Diogo Costa and Zubimendi put in the loose ball from close range.
Advertisement
Portugal responded fast and from almost nowhere, Nuno Mendes stepping past two challenges to hit a hard, clean low shot into the corner. But Spain reasserted themselves, another misjudgment from Costa seeing Williams nudge just wide and, just before half-time, Oyarzabal gave them the lead again, Pedri slipping the pass through for him to turn into the net.
This was the 16th goal Oyarzabal has scored for Spain, his third in a final. His fourth if you include the 2020 Olympics. There is something about him: a subtlety, intelligence and quality of touch too often overlooked, a man lacking in ego or a lobby. And if Spain lost the 2021 Nations League final to France, and had to settle for a silver medal against Brazil in Tokyo, his was the winner against England in Berlin last summer, now it seemed he had set Spain on course for a third title in a row.
But then he appeared, which he tends to do; which he has done so, so many times. It can seem that Ronaldo is not there at times – a lot of the time these days, in truth – but he always is. And when Nuno Mendes escaped Lamine Yamal and his cross took a deflection, looping up and dropping behind Marc Cucurella, there he was again, to volley in from close range. It was his 134 goal for Portugal; that thousand-goal target which he insists is no target at all genuinely may be met one day. A thousand, for goodness’ sake.
Off he went, pointing at his chest, kissing the ball. Spain could hardly believe it. They were not dominating as they had, not creating either, yet nor did they feel under threat. Now though the control they had slipped away, even if Williams did then send a shot whistling wide. Indeed, they could feel grateful when Nélson Semedo’s cross went straight into Simón’s hands. The departure of Pedri and Fabian had perhaps undermined them, their play lacking edge or acceleration; legs looked heavy and opportunities were few until, with seven minutes left, Isco took aim and Costa dived to push over. At the other end, Simon had to save Fernandes’s free-kick on 90 minutes.
By then, Ronaldo had just gone off and extra time brought a different flow, a different Portugal, at least to begin with. They should have had the lead immediately when Nuno Mendes, who was becoming the most threatening man out there, set up Semedo for a startling miss from five yards, and the game was tilting their way. Spain were struggling, with Nuno Mendes and the substitute Rafael Leão in particular. Although the next time Nuno Mendes raced into the area and went down it was a dive, Spain were on edge when that left wing got up and running. And yet they did get hold of the game again. Enough, at least, to worry Portugal again and, with Diogo Jota heading a wonderful opportunity over with twenty seconds left, it was time to head back to the spot, where history waited.
Read the full article here