The Spanish national team joined the ranks of the teams qualified for the semi-finals of the European Football Championship by defeating its Portuguese host 1-0, Tuesday, in the second group matches of the last sixth round.
La Roja, runners-up in the last edition of the continental competition, owes the victory to striker Alvaro Morata, who scored the only goal in the 88th minute.
Spain took the lead in the group from Portugal, the champion of the first edition in 2019, after raising its score to 11 points, one point ahead of “Celecao”, which only needed a draw to qualify, while Switzerland ranked third with 9 points by beating the Czech Republic 2-1.
Spain became the last team qualified for the semi-finals after Croatia (Group A), Italy (Third) and the Netherlands (Fourth), while Czech Republic was relegated to the second level, joining Austria, England and Wales.
The final rounds of the UEFA Nations League will be held from 14 to 18 June 2023.
“In a moment we will have received a goal”
At the Braga stadium in Portugal, the coach of the hosts Fernando Santos made the star Cristiano Ronaldo, despite the fact that the best player in the world five times was widely criticized by the Portuguese press against the background of the modest level that he appeared in during the “Celecao” victory over the Czech Republic 4-0, Saturday. .
Joao Cancelo also returned to the defense on the right arcade, after he missed the previous match to be suspended. While Paris Saint-Germain full-back Nuno Mendes replaced Mario Roy on the left arcade, the duo Robin Diach and Danilo Pereira maintained their positions in the heart of the defense.
Santos also retained the midfield trio of Ruben Neves, William Carvalho and Bruno Fernandes, with a single change in attack, preferring Diogo Jota over Rafael Leao on the left flank, while Bernardo Silva occupied the right flank.
Neves regretted the loss of his country at home to Spain for the first time since 2003, saying: “We knew that Spain would have the ball a lot, and we also knew that we had the quality of possession, but in the first 15 minutes we did not press well. Then we adjusted things and controlled the ball. We had a lot of chances to score.”
“But in the last minutes, in a moment of silence from our team, we conceded a goal. It is a goal that we could not achieve. We fought to the end and now we have to respond. We have to focus on the World Cup. There is room to correct mistakes and we have to improve a lot because there is a major tournament waiting for us.”
On the Spaniards side, coach Luis Enrique made seven changes compared to the squad that lost 1-2 at home to Switzerland on Saturday, with only Pau Torres maintaining his position in defence, to play alongside Hugo Guillamon. Dani Carvajal was inserted on the right flank, while Jose Gaya played on the left.
He also replaced in the middle the veteran Barcelona trio Sergio Busquets (34 years), and the two young men, Pedri and Gavi, with Carlos Soler, Rodri and Koke.
Morata returned to the starting lineup to play alongside Ferran Torres on the right and Pablo Sarabia on the left, while Marco Asensio sat on the bench.
Morata the hero
In a negative first half, Portugal played in an organized manner, leaving possession of the ball to its neighbor, Spain, who seemed unable to find the net, despite its reliance on counter-attacks and a dangerous opportunity 8 minutes after the start of the whistle after a defensive error from Manchester City back Cancelo and a misunderstanding with Neves benefited From him Sarabia to hit the ball hit defender Pereira.
Portugal responded from a corner and a right-footed shot from Neves, which was blocked by goalkeeper Unai Simon (23), and the latter returned and shined after 10 minutes in front of a shot by Liverpool striker Jota.
Portugal started the second half with a dangerous attack by Ronaldo after a pass in the back of the Spanish defense, but goalkeeper Simon blocked the shot of the Manchester United star (47).
Enrique made several substitutions and hit the quadruple Busquets, Gavi, Jeremy Pino and Pedri to give more danger to the “La Roja” team, while the Portugal coach responded by involving Liao and Vitina, while Morata forced Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa to a wonderful intervention after a through shot with his left foot (77), before To open the scoring after a long pass from Carvajal to young substitute Nico Williams, turning his head in front of the goal, followed by the unmarked Atletico Madrid striker in the open goal (88).
Ronaldo almost realized the superiority of his team, but Simon was on the lookout again by blocking the CR7 shot (90).
In the same group, Switzerland beat its guest Czech Republic 2-1.
The three goals were scored in the first half, as the hosts advanced through Remo Frullier and Brill Impolo in the 29th and 30th minutes, and Patrick Shek reduced the difference in favor of the visitors before the end of the first half (45).