Turning and unexpected! At the end of an evening where he will have long undergone the law of a dominating mannschaft, Portugal has snatched its ticket for the final of the League of Nations by winning in Germany (1-2). Led in the score and jostled, the Lusitanians drew on unsuspected resources to sign a lightning come up in the second half, crucifying a German team which was already seen in the final and which falls back into its home. A feat that carries the mark of an inspired coaching, a predestined surname and the eternal claw by Cristiano Ronaldo.
For an hour, the logic of the terrain seemed relentless. Germany, at home, dictated the tempo, confiscated the ball and multiplied the waves on the goal of Diogo Costa. After several alerts signed by the neo-international Woltemade (19th) and then Goretzka (21st), the domination of the Mannschaft logically materialized when the locker room returns by Florian Wirtz, a beautiful movement with Kimmich with the head. Portugal, it would run after the shadow of the ball, like a Cristiano Ronaldo author of three missed opportunities (7th, 46th, 66th) and which seemed to give reason to its detractors.
Ronaldo the Savior, Conceição the magician (like dad!): Portugal terrace Germany
Conceição, the unexpected spark that changes everything
We then thought the Mannschaft launched towards victory. It was without counting on the inspired coaching of Roberto Martinez and the entry into the game of a kneader kid, carrying a name that was painfully resonating with German ears: Francisco Conceição. Barely five minutes after his appearance on the lawn, the young Portuguese winger offered himself a memorable lonely raid on the right side, transplanted in the axis and set off a rolled strike from the left which was to clean the skylight of Ter Stegen (around the 63rd). A jewel, his second in selection, which completely revived the match and brought back a distant, almost unreal echo. Because 25 years ago, during Euro 2000, a certain Sérgio Conceição, his father, had already crucified Germany, even offering himself a resounding hat -trick during what was, until this evening, the last official victory of Portugal against the Mannschaft. The story, sometimes, has these tasty winks.
Ronaldo, the Phoenix, completes the Mannschaft
Galvanized by this equalization from elsewhere, Portugal was going to carry the estocade. Barely five minutes later, on a raging breakthrough from Nuno Mendes on the left side, the Parisian side deposited a perfect service for Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese captain, this time, did not let the opportunity pass and propelled the leather to the bottom of the nets for his 137th international goal (68th). The blow for a sounded Germany, unable to react despite a last attempt by Adeyemi (81st). The end of the match, tense, marked by an altercation between Füllkrug and Rúben Dias, even saw Conceição brushing the double (90th).
Portugal in the final, cursed Germany at home
Portugal therefore holds its feat and its place in the final of the League of Nations-against the winner of France-Spain-which he will try to win for the second time. This victory breaks a long series of disappointments against the big nations. For Germany of Julian Nagelsmann, on the other hand, it is a new cruel disillusionment at home, after that of the Euro. The site remains immense. The Lusitanians can continue to dream, carried by the magic of a name and the eternal Ronaldo.
