The spirit of the "Selecao"

In the early hours of June 9th, the 2024/25 Nations League final took place between two elite representatives of the Iberian Peninsula: Spain and Portugal. This high-stakes contest was not only between the two best teams but also between two superstars from two generations: "The veteran" Cristiano Ronaldo and "The youngster" Lamine Yamal. With their characteristic tenacity, the "Selecao" defeated the "Bulls" to claim the title.

Spain's victory over France in the semi-finals demonstrated their formidable strength. No matter the opponent, they can overcome them. The "Bulls'" current form allows them to overcome any obstacle. Possessing a dynamic and versatile attack with the brilliance of Lamine Yamal , Nico Williams, and Mikel Oyarzabal, La Roja's goals can come from any situation. The seamless coordination between the lines of the team, along with the "Bulls'" unwavering determination to win, is truly astonishing, making Luis de la Fuente's team virtually invincible. However, what truly defines their strength is victory and the title. In this final, however, Spain failed to materialize that goal, losing to Portugal in a tense penalty shootout.

On the Portuguese side, having won the inaugural Nations League, they were hoping to claim the title again. The "Selecao" didn't have easy wins like Spain, but the Portuguese warriors showed remarkable resilience in crucial moments to secure the final victory. On their journey to the final, Ronaldo and his teammates demonstrated their character and never-give-up spirit. Their two comebacks in the quarter-finals and semi-finals against Denmark and Germany were clear evidence of their resilience. These results instilled confidence and motivated Portugal to create a "miracle" in the final against Spain. And despite facing a seemingly perfect Spanish team, their confidence and resilience in big matches allowed the " Selecao" to win in their usual way: a spectacular comeback.

As fans had hoped, with star-studded lineups, most notably Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Lamine Yamal of Spain, both in top form, and a determination to win, the "Bulls" and "Selecao" delivered a spectacular match for football fans. Immediately after the opening whistle, both teams increased the pace with the intention of launching an early attack. Thanks to the aggressive play of the Yamal-Nico Williams duo on the wings, Spain repeatedly troubled the Portuguese defense. In the 21st minute, the "Bulls" scored when Zubimendi seized the opportunity to score the opening goal from a precise cross by Yamal. Just 5 minutes later, Portugal equalized when defender Nuno Mendes broke through and unleashed a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Unai Simon. Before the end of the first half, the "Bulls" once again took the lead. This time it was Pedri's turn to make his mark, as the midfielder provided the assist for Oyarzabal to make the score 2-1.

In the second half, Portugal established an attacking game right from the start. In the 48th minute, Bruno Fernandes found the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside. However, in the 61st minute, Cristiano Ronaldo – the biggest hope of the " Selecao" – scored. Receiving a perfect pass from a teammate, CR7 tapped the ball in from close range to equalize 2-2 for Portugal. The 2-2 score was maintained until the end of regular time and both extra time periods. In the tense penalty shootout, Portugal proved more composed, scoring five goals. Spain only missed one penalty, but that was more than enough to dethrone the "Bulls".

Portugal's victory over Spain in the final secured their second Nations League title. The team from the Iberian Peninsula overcame the trauma of a disastrous EURO tournament to reaffirm their position on the world football map. With this championship, "The Old Man" Cristiano Ronaldo achieved a personal victory over " The Youngster" Lamine Yama. Messi's successor still has much more to strive for to reach even greater heights.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/ban-linh-selecao-130867.html