Spain and Portugal are set to clash on Sunday night in Munich, with both nations vying to be the first side to lift the UEFA Nations League trophy for a second time. Following dramatic semifinal performances earlier in the week, this final promises to be an exciting encounter.
Portugal was the first team to book their spot in the final, achieving this with an impressive victory against hosts Germany. Germany`s Florian Wirtz opened the scoring early in the first half, but Roberto Martinez`s squad responded powerfully. A quickfire double from Francisco Conceicao and Cristiano Ronaldo secured their path to the final, marking their first appearance since they won the inaugural competition in 2019.
The tension in Munich on Wednesday was quickly overshadowed by the events in the match between Spain and France. The reigning European champions, Spain, surged into a four-goal lead, with Lamine Yamal delivering a particularly inspired performance. Hopes of a French comeback seemed dashed when Yamal netted his second goal, immediately after Kylian Mbappe had scored a penalty. However, France launched a thrilling late rally, sparked by Rayan Cherki`s brilliant debut goal, ultimately losing 5-4 in a memorable contest.
For Spain, a victory would solidify their standing as a premier European team, successfully defending the title they claimed in the Netherlands two years prior. Meanwhile, Portugal would relish the opportunity to defeat their prominent neighbor in the final.
Recent Encounters
Matches between these Iberian rivals have a history of high drama. Notable past games include a stunning 3-3 draw during the 2018 World Cup and a tense 1-0 victory for Spain in 2010 on their way to becoming world champions. More recently, they faced off in the Nations League group stage. Alvaro Morata played a significant role in these fixtures. In their first meeting, his early goal was canceled out by Ricardo Horta. However, in the return match in Braga, Morata, an unused substitute in the recent semifinal, scored in the 88th minute to secure Spain`s first competitive win on Portuguese soil in 88 years.
Player to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal: Who else could it be? The leading goalscorer in men`s international football history continues to find the back of the net. Even setting aside his goal against Germany, his overall performance was impressive. Portugal`s tactical setup often aims to create shooting opportunities for Ronaldo, and he demonstrated his willingness to take them, registering seven shots in the semifinal.
Prediction
This final might not reach the extraordinary scoring levels of Spain`s semifinal, but both teams possess the capability to score and concede multiple goals. The outcome is difficult to predict, but Spain`s recent form and consistency make them the favorites. Predicted Score: Portugal 1, Spain 3.
Adrian Whitmore