Portugal vs. Spain Who will reign in the Nations League final?

The Nations League semi-final matches held in Germany delighted football fans not only with spectacular play but also with plenty of goals.

Three of the four semi-finalists have already won this tournament. For example, the Portugal national team, which faced Germany in Munich, was the first champion of the Nations League. Still, the hosts looked like the favourites from the start for two reasons.

First, Germany was playing at their home stadium — a factor especially important in knockout matches and often gives the team an extra advantage.

Second, Portugal had not beaten Germany since 2000 — a quarter of a century without a victory over this opponent.

Nevertheless, Portugal had one trump card that Germany didn’t — Cristiano Ronaldo. Even at forty, even though he’s no longer as fast, he remains focused on goals and victories. Despite all the unfavourable circumstances — including conceding the opening goal — the Portuguese managed to regroup and snatch a 2–1 win. And, of course, it was Cristiano who scored the decisive goal...

The second semi-final, held in Stuttgart, outdid even the most intense football thriller in terms of drama.

Spain — the current holders of the trophy — faced France, who won the Nations League in 2021. Let’s recall that it was France who beat Spain 2–1 in that year’s final.

This time, however, it took less than an hour for Spain to storm ahead 4–0 — with Pedri scoring a brace by the 55th minute. The teams then exchanged goals, bringing the score to 5–1. But the drama wasn’t over yet. The French responded with three more goals, cutting the deficit to a single goal — 5–4. But they ran out of time and energy to go any further.

And now we await a thrilling final showdown: rising global football star Lamine Yamal versus the legend — and perhaps fading star — Cristiano Ronaldo. It is this duel, set to unfold at Munich’s Allianz Arena on 8 June, that could well decide the winner of the tournament.

On paper, Spain are undoubtedly the favourites: they are the reigning European champions and holders of the most recent Nations League title. But a final is just one match. And Portugal is precisely the kind of team that knows how to deliver when it matters most.

Yes, Spain holds a significant advantage in head-to-head encounters — 18 wins in 41 matches. Portugal has only 6 victories, with the last dating back to 2010 — a resounding 4–0 win. And it was, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo who opened the scoring in that game. So it’s entirely possible that the "Connor MacLeod of world football" may remind us once again of his immortality.

History also favours the Spaniards: they have scored five goals against Portugal on three occasions — in 1929 (5–0), 1941 (5–1), and 1950 (5–1). And back in 1934, Spain utterly crushed their rivals with a staggering 9–0 victory.

One thing is certain — on 8 June, we are in for vibrant, attacking, and high-scoring football.

By Vugar Vugarli, exclusively for Caliber.Az