2022-09-27
spain qualified this Tuesday for the ‘Final 4’ of the League of Nations by beating the bell 1-0 to Portugal in the Municipal Stadium of Braga, in a last major test before the World Cup.
The selections classified to the ‘Final 4’ of the League of Nations
a goal of Álvaro Morata (88) god a spain the only result that was worth it to be in the ‘Final 4’ of the continental tournament, along with Croatia, Holland and Italy from June 14 to 18, 2023 in a country to be determined.
The ‘Red’ came to the meeting as second classified in group A2 and only needed the victory, which they achieved following a gray game, in which they only activated in the last 20 minutes.
the selector Luis Enrique Martinez revolutionized the starting eleven following Saturday’s defeat once morest Swiss (2-1), but spain it was once more slow, not very forceful and without starting ideas.
In the first half he dominated the ball, but without depth and without being able to find the faults in the orderly Portuguese defense, which was waiting to go on the counterattack.
The local team warned with a shot from Ruben Neves from the front that forced the Spanish goalkeeper to stretch Unai Simon (23). The ‘Red’ goalkeeper reappeared to deflect a shot from Diogo Jotafollowing a cut in the area (33).
Unai Simon became one of the best men in a spainwho in the first half was unable to square a shot at the Portuguese goal, except for a shot from paul sarabia deflected by the local defense (22).
After the pause, an error of Dani Carvajal allowed an internship Cristiano Ronaldowho lost heads-up with Simon, on the clearest occasion of the Portuguese (47). The Portuguese star had another great opportunity only once morest the goalkeeper, but he was too slow and Gayá he snatched the ball (71).
Providential Morata
The game seemed to follow the same path as in the first half, but the additions of Pedri, Gavi y Jeremy Pino by Soon, Sarabia y Carlos Soler (60) gave more speed to the ‘Red’.
Directed by Sergio Busquetswhich entered through Hugo Guillamón (46), spain began to arrive more and disturb the goal of Diogo Costa.
Álvaro Morata He received a ball in the area, but his shot was saved by the Portuguese goalkeeper (71) in the first shot between the three posts of the ‘Red’.
the input of Nico Williams by Ferran Torres (73) was the signal for spain He went full forward, progressing down the flanks to put balls into the area. Morata fired a low shot that forced him to stretch Diogo Costa (77).
began to suffer Portugalwho in the last minutes of the match ended up locked in his field defending himself tooth and nail until Nico Williams he left a ball on his head so that Morata enter and push it to the local networks (88).
With the goal in favor, it was up to Portugal throw themselves desperately in search of the equalizer, which in the end did not come.
spain will fight once more for the continental trophy following falling in the final once morest France in the last edition.
