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Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ronaldo breaks another scoring record as Portugal reach Nations League final
GERMANY 1-2 PORTUGAL: Cristiano Ronaldo fired Roberto Martinez's side into the final of the Nations League with a comeback win over hosts Germany at the Allianz Arena Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to a come-from-behind win over Germany to book their place in Sunday's Nations League final. Florian Wirtz had put the hosts ahead with a brilliant header from Joshua Kimmich's delicious chip three minutes into the second-half. But a triple change from Roberto Martinez sparked Portugal into life. It was one of those subs who put the visitors on level terms, with Francisco Conceição driving forward before curling a fantastic effort past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and into the bottom corner. Just five minutes after that, Ronaldo scored what would prove to be the winner. Nuno Mendes burst through the Germany defence before squaring the ball for his captain, who was left with an empty net to tap into. That goal also saw Ronaldo break the record for the most goals in a single Nations League A campaign, having notched seven strikes. That is one more than previous joint-holders Romelu Lukaku and Ferran Torres managed in the 2021/2022 campaign. It is though three less than Viktor Gyokeres managed as Sweden won promotion from Nations League C this year. It is the second Nations League final Portugal have reached. They won the first edition of the tournament back in 2019. Holders Spain and 2018 World Cup winners France will contest the other semi-final, which will be held in Stuttgart on Thursday night. It is the first time Portugal have beaten Germnay in any competition for 25 years. Their performance in the second-half was hailed by former Manchester City star Andy Hinchcliffe. He told Prime Video: "The genius of this goal is its simplicity. It's just pass and move football. Brilliant football to open Germany up. What a response to going behind from Portugal. He's not the attacking power he was but ultimately it looks as if Ronaldo's goal will be the decisive one. "The first half was a pretty even constant - Germany maybe shaded it. In the second half, yes Germany got the goal but it was an attacking flash. It's been a dominant performance from Portugal on and off the ball. "When Germany were 1-0 up, they adopted the right approach. They were looking for a second goal. But the substitutions from Roberto Martinez changed the complexion if the game. It's up to Germany to get a foothold in the game and do to Portugal what Portugal did to them."
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
O'Neill wants NI squad 'at its strongest' for June
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill feels June friendlies against Denmark and Iceland will be "good preparation" for World Cup qualifying but hopes his squad have fewer injuries come the double-header. His side were without the likes of Conor Bradley, Trai Hume, Dan Ballard and Ali McCann in a 5-1 friendly defeat to Sweden in March. That left the manager fielding a starting XI with an average age of under 23-years-old. The games against Demark in Copenhagen and Iceland in Belfast are the last before the side start World Cup qualifying in September, where they will be in a group with Germany, Slovakia and Luxembourg."We were down maybe five or six other players in March and the team got very young," O'Neill told BBC Sport NI."They're tough games. Denmark will be tough, Iceland won't be an easy game, but it's good preparation for what lies ahead in September." As well as the defeat by Sweden, Northern Ireland drew with Switzerland during March and, coupled with the opposition to be faced in June, O'Neill feels the step up in quality from their successful Nations League C campaign will be beneficial. "It was important to play a higher calibre of teams than we played in the Nations League," he added."Switzerland and Denmark, who are both pot one teams, and Sweden and Iceland, it gives exposure, but ideally we want our team at its strongest to be able to deal with that."Germany will be favourites to top the group but O'Neill wants his side to challenge for the runners-up spot, while they could yet have another route into the play-offs as a group winner from the Nations League. "We'll have to deal with Slovakia and Germany in the qualifying, and obviously Luxembourg as well," O'Neill said. "It's a tough group, but we can show that we have the potential to hopefully challenge for a play-off spot." Bradley contribution has been 'immense' Liverpool's Bradley missed the games against Switzerland and Sweden because of a hamstring injury sustained in February. He made a return for his club in April, although was absent with what the Reds called a "minor injury" as they clinched the Premier League title with a win against Tottenham last weekend."His contribution for us has been immense. In the Nations League he was terrific across the six games, unfortunately we lost him for the games in March," said O'Neill."I think he's probably frustrated with his contribution at Liverpool, he'd have contributed a lot more but injury obviously deprived him of that. "He's a big player with a big future but he's been unlucky with injuries and hopefully he gets a period without injury where he can really show his potential."As a first Northern Ireland international to pick up a winners' medal in the Premier League since Jonny Evans with Manchester United in 2013, O'Neill thinks Bradley's standing in the squad will be "enhanced" when they next meet up."Conor has a presence in the squad. As a Premier League winner that will only be enhanced," he added."We've not had that since Jonny Evans. Jonny always had a presence about him and I can see a lot of similarities."Although Conor is a younger player, [he is] developing into that kind of player that Jonny was for Northern Ireland."
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
NI exposed to 'level above' in Sweden loss
After Friday's draw with Switzerland, Michael O'Neill warned there were would be bumps on the road on the journey of his young Northern Ireland few would have expected one to come so soon, or it be one of the size faced in Tuesday's 5-1 defeat in are a better team than their Nations League C status indicates, and in Newcastle United's Alexander Isak they have a world-class star at the helm. But, fuelled by their defeat by Luxembourg, Sweden and Isak put on a clinical display in Stockholm."We obviously didn't come here to have a score-line like we had tonight, but we knew it would be a tough game," said O'Neill."I think 5-1 is maybe a bit harsh on us, but at the end of the day we did give them opportunities and at this level they will punish you." Northern Ireland's journey of progression has been a story of fearless youngsters and, largely, there's been plenty for the Green and White Army to cheer about. With a starting team with an average age of 22.6 - the joint-second youngest fielded by Northern Ireland since 1946 - it was another bright start before things quickly came unstuck on seven minutes. Wary of Isak, possibly the most in-form striker in world football, the NI defence got caught ball watching and that allowed the unmarked Emil Holm to fire home the first-choice defenders Conor Bradley and Trai Hume on the right-hand side, Sweden cut through the pair of Terry Devlin, making his first start, and Ruairi McConville, on his third cap, and that led to Pierce Charles, himself with only six caps, to push the ball into the path of Benjamin Sema added a third, while Isak powered home a superb fourth and Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga added a damage was done before Isaac Price scored his eighth international goal with a deflection as the clock ticked into injury time."I thought probably 2-0 was a little bit harsh on us at half-time, and then the third goal is a poor goal for us to lose off a set-piece," said O'Neill, while stressing "you always learn in international football"."In all honesty the attitude of the team was great. They never stopped trying to play. It was a tough night but that's why we took a game like this."We're asking a lot of young players who aren't playing every week for their clubs. They are not exposed to this level and this quality of player."Sweden have some top, top players – particularly at the top end of the pitch. It's a benchmark, for our players all of these games are a step up." O'Neill wants his team to learn. That's the whole point of facing teams like Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark ahead of a World Cup qualifying campaign that has paired them with Germany, Slovakia and the result is what it is, and downbeat demeanor of the players post-match said it all, the impact of the defeat will only become clear in the next two fixtures and beyond. Next up, there's more Scandinavian flavour as NI travel to Copenhagen and welcome Iceland to Windsor will be another chance to learn, another chance to grow. "There's another level above this - we have to go and play Germany - so we know what's in store for us but we can only get better as a team if we expose ourselves to this level of opposition," O'Neill said. "We've a tough game, a pot one team in Denmark and then Iceland, who are a similar nation to ourselves. "We played a Spanish team who were the best in Europe by a distance. We have to recognise we have a generation of young players who hopefully will continue to improve."As the players return to their clubs, O'Neill added his oft-repeated warning about minutes on the pitch."I can't say for certain to what level we get to, that will be determined by what level they get to with their clubs. "But I still think we had some good individual performance tonight. It's part of the learning curve for them."
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NI's 'decision-making' lacking in Sweden - O'Neill
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill said his side "need to defend better" after a 5-1 friendly defeat by Sweden in Stockholm. Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak scored a superb fourth for the hosts on Tuesday, having also created their opener. While Isaac Price did find the net for Northern Ireland late on, O'Neill felt the scoreline was "a little harsh" on his side. "They had some great moments, some great goals - Isak's in particular," said O'Neill. "We need to defend better. As a back three we didn't defend great, as a back five we didn't defend great in terms of our decision-making." Sweden led 2-0 at half-time courtesy of their only two shots on target in the opening 45 minutes, while McConville missed a great chance for the visitors with a header just before the break. "I didn't think in the first half there was a lot in it. They had two shots and scored two goals," O'Neill said. "We've two shots, the keeper makes a save and the other misses the target. "It wasn't as if we were relying on our keeper to make a load of saves or anything like that." O'Neill said he had taken the friendly against Sweden to "expose the players" to a higher level than they faced in Nations League C during the autumn, but felt that injuries cost his side at the Strawberry Arena. Northern Ireland were without Liverpool's Conor Bradley and Sunderland duo Trai Hume and Dan Ballard in defence. Midfielder Ali McCann and striker Dion Charles were also absent through injury. "We're missing players that will make a difference to the team, probably five or six players, potentially starting players," O'Neill added. Northern Ireland are next in action with a pair of June friendlies against Denmark away and Iceland at home.
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
NI's 'decision-making' lacking in Sweden - O'Neill
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill said his side "need to defend better" after a 5-1 friendly defeat to Sweden in Stockholm on Tuesday night. Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak scored a superb fourth for the hosts, having also created their Isaac Price did find the net for Northern Ireland late on, O'Neill felt the scoreline was "a little harsh" on his side. "They had some great moments, some great goals, Isak's in particular," said O'Neill."We need to defend better."As a back three we didn't defend great, as a back five we didn't defend great in terms of our decision-making."Sweden led 2-0 at half-time courtesy of their only two shots on target of the opening 45 minutes, while Northern Ireland's Ruairi McConville missed a great chance with a header just before the break."I didn't think in the first-half there was a lot in it. They had two shots and scored two goals," O'Neill said."We've two shots, the keeper makes a save and the other misses the target."It wasn't as if we were relying on our keeper to make a load of saves or anything like that."O'Neill said he had taken the friendly against Sweden to "expose the players" to a higher level than they faced in Nations League C during the autumn, but felt that injuries cost his side at the Strawberry Arena. Northern Ireland were without Liverpool's Conor Bradley and Sunderland duo Trai Hume and Dan Ballard in their defence. Midfielder Ali McCann and striker Dion Charles were also absent through injury. "We're missing players that will make a difference to the team, probably five or six players, potentially starting players," he Ireland are next in action with a pair of June friendlies against Denmark away and Iceland at home.
