TROPHY LIFT: Portugal claim UEFA Nations League glory for the second time
portugal have outdone Spain Five out of five for Portugal that sees them celebrate Class act though Cristiano Ronaldell going to Marata player missed the penalty He’s gone around all the Spanish players Oscar Deuente as well giving him a big hug Just a word in his ear again Oh he he knows what it’s like to lose things But just to commiserate with fellow professionals is so important When you’re a player like him he doesn’t have to do any of that It can be all about him all about Portugal but he realizes how tough it is to lose big games And who they’ve beaten in this final is going to make it feel all the sweeter But they will not be getting their hands on the Nations League trophy this evening He was quite a player in his day Pepe brings out the prize for Portugal [Applause] Hero’s adoration for the former Real Madrid and Porto defender He’s had his time in the sun He’s had his glory Former teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo when they won the Euros in 2016 and Pepe now lords the successful Portuguese players who followed him [Music] [Music] First man up to the podium is the man who’s receiving a special award Nuno Mendes has been named player of the tournament for this Nations League finals Sometimes I do get something right I thought he was brilliant provided the assist for Ronaldo’s goal in the semiinal Scored his own goal here tonight Nudo Mendes who is not yet 23 years of age is a young man with the world at his feet [Music] And you can see what a popular figure he is with the teammates too 36th cap tonight for Noodle Mendes He will head off on his holidays now with Champions League winners medal and a nations league winners medal Recognition for the officials too Sandra Sher and his Swiss team including Suzan Kung and Jonas Ernie Fourth official tonight Sar Gerber from the Netherlands difficult with the stakes at this high to keep order and the officials did a good job in that regard tonight They did a terrific job and actually of course if they get it right they get it wrong They can make or break a final They were excellent in terms of onfield decisions for A superb [Music] Now the runners up Everything they’ve touched has turned to gold in recent years and great respect shown between the two Iberian neighbors here They both wanted this prize so badly Spain collect their silver Of course it’s Portugal’s night but a lot of international teams around Europe around the world just be a little bit wary here You you pull a tiger’s tail and there’s a response There’s a reaction and I’m expecting one and a positive one from Spain Luis Defeent who replaced Lewis Enrique after the World Cup in 2022 came so close tonight to becoming the first ever international coach of a European team to win three competitions in a row at the start of his tenure It feels very likely that this Spanish team will bounce back Don’t think we’ve heard the last of them by any [Applause] means who arrived in this final so much scrutiny around him and Portugal played extra attention to make sure that he would not be the one to shine Yeah it was a big one-on-one battle wasn’t it Y Lal against Nuno Mendes and it’s pretty clear who came out on top Not saying you had a terrible game but he just found it more difficult playing against one of the you know arguably the best left back attacking left back in European football So at 17 it’s never all going to be straightforward And you know he’ll learn an awful lot from this Spain will as a team and he will as a as an individual He’s got ballet in his boots He’s got venom in his vision He is a young man not yet 18 years of age He’s too young to rent a car And yet he holds the steering wheel for this Spanish international team Vindication for Roberto Martinez who has bravely kept faith in the prowess of Cristiano Ronaldo Many felt he should have moved the superstar arm But tonight this goes a long way towards proving the methods were correct Yeah you look at the Portugal squad and there’s some great players in there and you’ve got Ronaldo as well But you probably say well any coach could get the job done could win titles like this But it isn’t that easy against Germany and against Denmark getting here as well certainly in the final You’ve got to get your tactics right You’ve got to get your substitutions right The coach needs to get all his decisions right to win a game at this level So give Martinez a huge amount of credit for getting the very best out of this Portugal squad Diego Costa penalty hero again in a shootout after his heroics here in Germany last summer at Euro 2024 Picture perfect moments for Pepe to collect and save her That’s who came on as a sum in both the semi-final and the final Some players who didn’t get to kick a ball in anger at all such as Antonio Silva there of Bened Fica concal against Germany in the semiinal Dalow didn’t get to play but he does bring home a winner’s medal Raphael Leo played a big part in the latter stages of this final but having waited for the others to step forward It is once again Cristiano Ronaldo who takes the center stage Power Pach Portuguese story is not about potential It is about pedigree The first team to win this competition twice Portugal are the nations league winners for 2025 [Music] He’s won it all but he is hungry for every prize on offer And there will be a day when Portugal mourns the retirement of Cristiano Ronaldo But that day has not arrived yet Well front and center as always Cristiano Ronaldo but he’ll pay tribute to to his teammates I’m sure It’s not just him that enables a a team a squad to win a big competition like this He is a great team player but you know it’s just wonderful His smile I think really sums it up What it means for Portugal to win this was in that smile from Cristiano Ronaldo It’s a nation’s league finals week in Germany that has been so tight and so ky Just one goal remember separated each of the semis This final itself went all the way to the penalty shootout A night that Portugal are never going to forget They showed such resilience coming from behind in the semis Foutinho who hardly put a foot wrong nearly drops the trophy in the celebrations What a week for him Champions League and Nations League Foutinho proving himself to be amongst the most coveted midfielders in European football And the Portuguese fans are going to savor this Yeah Petin the trophy’s as big as he is but he when he plays he is an absolute giant Constellation to Spain Congratulations to Portugal as the incredible Cristiano Ronaldo story moves up another level once again for myself Conor McNavaro from Andy Hedgecliffe in Munich A very good night Portugal Nations League champions for 2025 before you lose the champions my [Music] friends Keep on fighting till the end We are champions We are the champions We are the [Applause] champions Are we the champions My friends and we are here to the end We are the champions We are the [Music] champions We are the champions [Music] [Applause] Heat Heat [Applause] people [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Yeah Heat [Applause] She go She go [Applause] [Music] Go go go go [Applause] go Heat Heat [Applause] [Applause] to be son of God Hallelujah [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Hey you go You [Applause] go Heat Heat [Music] [Applause] Thank [Applause] you There you go There you go [Applause] Yes Awesome [Applause] Heat [Applause] up here Did you enjoy that There’s so much more So why not hit subscribe and download the Opt Sport app
Portugal came back twice to send the UEFA Nations League final to penalties and were perfect from the spot. They become the first team to win the Nations League for a second time.
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