Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
WITH a stunning Euros win in their pocket and a squad laden with young talent, Spain may be the joint-favourites for next year’s World Cup in North America – but the 2025 Nations League final proved a step too far as La Roja were defeated on penalties by neighbouring Portugal.
Spain had won this tournament in 2023 on penalties. However, this time around it was Croatia that took the surprise loss.
Diogo Cost’s save of Alvaro Morata’s weak effort at the Allianz Arena, Munich, on Sunday was the difference. This is the same stadium where Paris Saint-Germain defeated Inter Milan in the Champions League final last week.
The Iberian game was much tighter, and 120 minutes of soccer could not separate the two teams.
Spain’s energetic team scored in the 21st minutes through Martin Zubimendi. This Real Sociedad, Premier League Arsenal-linked midfielder is a Real Sociedad star.
READ MORE My night of bedlam in Bilbao: Richarlison, friendly locals and a slick police operation that kept 80,000 English fans from harm – but couldn’t keep the buses and trains running
Nuno, who just returned from PSG’s Champions League victory, scored the equalizer.
Cristiano Ronaldo (40) equalised the score for Portugal after Spain had retaken the lead through Mikel yarzabal. Oyarzabal was the goal-scorer of the Euro 2024 Final against England.
Ronaldo, who was forced to leave the game during extra time due to an injury, wept with joy when Ruben Neves won with a penalty. This is Ronaldo’s third international title, after the 2016 Euros he won and the 2019 Nations League.
The match was billed before the game as a battle between the old and the new. Ronaldo was pitted against Lamine Yamal (17-year-old Barcelona wonderkid), who many had predicted would win the Balon D’Or this year.
Yamal, who is regarded by many as being the best left-back on the planet, struggled against Nuno Mendes. Ronaldo’s interventions proved crucial.
