Portugal 2 Spain 2 (5-3 pens): Tearful Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, wins third international trophy as Morata misses penalty
PORTUGAL tasted Nations League glory for a second time with Cristiano Ronaldo playing a starring role – and Chelsea flop Alvaro Morata the villain.
After winning the inaugural 2019 edition, Roberto Martinez's men are champions once more in a thrilling finale in Munich, fighting back twice to draw level against reigning European champions Spain.
9
Portugal beat Spain 5-3 on penalties in the Nations League final
9
Cristiano Ronaldo broke down in tears after Ruben Neves scored the last spot-kick
9
Diogo Costa saved Alvaro Morata's penalty
And Spain's Morata missed his spot-kick for Ruben Neves to slot home the winner.
Both nations were vying to become the first to lift the Nations League twice.
A slow start was thrust into life by a
READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
Yamal at the heart of it, his delicious cross was made a mess of by a scrambling Portugal defence, allowing soon-to-be
Spain were 4-0 up after 55 minutes in their 5-4 semi thriller against
France
last week, but
It ended with Mendes firing low into the bottom corner in the 26th minute, but not before a VAR check that judged
Ronaldo
to have timed his run to perfection.
The final say of the first half was Spain's.
Most read in Football
9
Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring in the 21st minute
9
Nuno Mendes levelled the scores within five minutes
9
Mikel Oyarzabal made it 2-1 on the stroke of half-time
9
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
hearts
in the
Euros
final in Berlin last
summer
producing another big goal in Munich.
Martinez responded by bringing on Neves and Nelson Semedo at the break, and it almost had an instant impact as
Bruno
Fernandes had a 49th minute strike ruled out for offside.
Cristiano Ronaldo's bodyguard Hichman Bukhari talks about the risks of protecting the football superstar
An equaliser was coming and
Ronaldo
reacted first to a deflected looped cross that bamboozled
He hobbled off with a muscular injury in the 88th minute, while Yamal was subbed in the 106th minute, as the game became niggly with a
VAR
red-check following a mass melee.
Goncalo Ramos,
Vitinha
, Bruno Fernandes and Nuno Mendes all slotted home their penalties before Neves became the hero.
9
Ronaldo equalised in the 61st minute - his 138rd international goal
9
Ronaldo limped off injured in the the 87th minute
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Chelsea star, 25, ASKED to be left out of Club World Cup squad to secure transfer exit with Premier League rivals keen
CHELSEA ace Djordje Petrovic asked to be left out of the Club World Cup squad to focus on his future. 4 Chelsea ace Djordje Petrovic asked to be left out of the Club World Cup squad 4 Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca agreed to omit Petrovic so that he can focus on his future 4 And following his impressive performances in Ligue 1 the goalkeeper wants to be a guaranteed starter, something the West Londoners cannot offer him. According to Read More on Chelsea Thus, both parties agreed that Petrovic would be best served trying to sort out his future instead of travelling to the US. And should the keeper fail to secure a permanent move away to another club that meets his demands then he will rejoin Chelsea for pre-season training in July. Strasbourg have expressed an interest in signing the Serbian permanently this summer. Most read in Football However, there is also interest from various Premier League sides - Chelsea were planning to include Petrovic in their Club World Cup squad had he not asked to be left out regardless of their recent bid to land AC Milan star Mike Maignan. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS The Blues' £12.7million offer The West Londoners could revisit their attempt to sign the France international when the summer transfer window reopens on June 16. Inside Chelsea's Strasbourg talent factory as angry fans fight identity crisis However, Maresca still has faith in his other goalkeepers Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen and Mike Penders, which is also a reason why Petrovic couldn't be guaranteed a starting role. Andrey Santos, who also played for Strasbourg last season, is the only loanee to be included in the Club World Cup squad. The same doesn't apply for Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix and Axel Disasi, while new signings Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr will be flying to the US. 4 Club World Cup 2025 Guide SOME of the world's biggest clubs are heading Stateside for a MAMMOTH Club World Cup. Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Man City, and Inter Miami are among the 32 teams taking part in the tournament, which runs from June 14 to July 13. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele, Cole Palmer and Harry Kane will be showing their skills to packed crowds across the US. Los Blancos are favourites to lift the trophy in New York but will face stiff competition from around the globe. Here's everything you need to know ahead of the tournament... INFO Everything you need to know ahead of the Club World Cup LATEST NEWS & FEATURES
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
Tame friendly draws showed us why Ireland aren't expected to reach World Cup
Results throughout the 2020s clearly explain why the Republic of Ireland is ranked 60th in the world by Fifa . Sandwiched between Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the lowly position in the global game comes after non-starter campaigns to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024. An undeniable trend is evident. Ireland have lost their opening two matches in the previous four campaigns, having also crumbled at the start of the Nations League groups in 2022 and 2024. It leaves manager Heimir Hallgrimsson with an enormous task to get at least a draw with Hungary on September 6th in Dublin and a victory over Armenia in Yerevan three days later to have any chance of reaching a play-off to feature at the 2026 World Cup in North America. Portugal, the newly crowned Nations League champions, are expected to top Group F. READ MORE Another false dawn would place Hallgrimsson in the same category as his predecessor Stephen Kenny despite an unbeaten run so far in 2025. Two victories against Bulgaria in a Nations League relegation play-off in March were followed by underwhelming draws with Senegal and Luxembourg on Tuesday night . 'I cannot lie, we are obviously not happy with the performance and how we wanted to end this week,' Hallgrimsson explained. 'We took, maybe not a step backwards, but we didn't take the next step. It would have been nice to have a good performance [against Luxembourg on Tuesday].' Nathan Collins, the captain at Stade de Luxembourg, was also unable to hide his disappointment following the 0-0 draw. 'We were passive,' said Collins, 'but still dug out a clean sheet. We all know that was nowhere near our best. We have so much more to give.' Besides the encouraging creativity of Finn Azaz against Bulgaria and the club form of Troy Parrott in the Netherlands and Collins at Brentford, there is little evidence to suggest that Hungary, led by Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai, can be contained at the Aviva Stadium, never mind in Budapest in November. It was actually just boring, there was nothing happening — Heimir Hallgrimsson There are some positives to cling to. Hallgrimsson clearly has a plan to guide Ireland to their first major tournament since Euro 2016. He has bedded in a structure built around sling-shotting the 33-year-old Robbie Brady up and down the left wing. Eighteen minutes into Tuesday's scoreless affair, Brady's calf tightened. The veteran played 85 minutes of the 1-1 draw with Senegal the previous Friday. Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson with John Joe Patrick Finn after Tuesday's 0-0 draw in Luxembourg. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Ryan Manning filled the gap with enthusiasm. The Southampton fullback was decent against Senegal in the inside left midfield slot that the Ireland manager has earmarked for the currently injured Sammie Szmodics. There are no individual stars in a Hallgrimsson team. Not when he guided Iceland to Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, nor when he brought Jamaica to the 2024 Copa America. The system trumps the individual. Historically, that approach has suited Irish players. 'We were really disappointed with the first half,' the manager continued. 'It was actually just boring, there was nothing happening. We talked at half-time. It was not about tactics. It was not about formations. It was more about attitude. 'Are you willing to do the work that's necessary? The basics that are necessary in a football game? No matter who you play, no matter whether it's a competitive or a friendly game, you need to do the basics. You need to deliver all the work that's necessary. That was just missing, the basics. 'Credit to the players, that changed in the second half, there was more momentum, more power, more energy. Still, we were not happy but we didn't lose at least.' That about sums up the state of the senior men's team. At least they didn't lose to a country ranked 91st in the world. The FAI must be concerned about the dip in interest as several media outlets did not see the value of sending journalists to Luxembourg. The players that were made available in the post-match mixed-zone backed up that editorial decision. Even RTÉ, the broadcast right holders, did not send their commentary team nor was there a studio panel during the live coverage. So, 10 months into Hallgrimsson's 18-month contract, how is it going? 'You're maybe two hours too late to ask this question,' he replied late on Tuesday night. 'I would have answered it really positively two hours ago but now, again, I'm not going to take too much from this because we have had a steady growth. 'Probably tomorrow, when I look at it, I will be happier with many things. If we are going to qualify we need to do better than we did now. Four points would be ok [against Hungary and Armenia], a good start. Six is what we aim for.'
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Palace co-owner John Textor would sell shares for Europa League chance
Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor is willing to sell his shares in the club in order to ensure the Eagles can enter next season's Europa League, according to reports. The American, whose Eagle Football Group owns 43 per cent of Palace, has imperilled the club's chance of a first-ever European campaign owing to his involvement with Ligue 1 side Lyon, but is ready to offload his stake to his fellow co-owners in order to bring the saga to an end. UEFA does not allow clubs with the same ownership to compete in the same European competitions in a season. Eberechi Eze scored the winning goal when Palace beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final (Adam Davy/PA) As well as his stake in Palace, the 59-year-old has a controlling stake in the French club, also via Eagle Football. However it is also reported that the European governing body does not consider Textor's influence at Selhurst Park to be decisive and is leaning towards allowing the club into the Europa League regardless. The PA news agency understands no formal decision is likely on Palace's fate until the end of June. Textor has previously spoken of his frustration at how little influence his stake entitles him to, over football matters. Victory for Oliver Glasner's side over Manchester City in last month's FA Cup final gave them their first major trophy and with it a first crack at Europe. Nottingham Forest – who are owned by Evangelos Marinakis – have written to UEFA challenging Palace's involvement in the Europa League (Mike Egerton/PA) However, Nottingham Forest have since written to UEFA to challenge Palace's Europa League spot and in the hope of taking their place. Forest's owner Evangelos Marinakis, who also owns Greek side Olympiacos, placed his shares in the club in a blind trust before the governing body's March 1 deadline, anticipating Nuno Espirito Santo's side's European qualification. At present Forest, who finished seventh in last season's Premier League, are set to enter the Conference League but would take Palace's Europa League place, should they be deemed ineligible.
