Spain qualified on Tuesday, September 27, in Braga (Portugal) for the final four of the League of Nations by winning (1-0) during their Iberian duel against Portugal on a goal from Alvaro Morata. The Spaniards finish top (11 points) of group A2 ahead of Portugal (10), Switzerland (9) and the Czech Republic (4), relegated to League B. La Roja will play the final phase of the competition scheduled from 14 to June 18, 2023.
The goal of Alvaro Morata, in the last minutes of the meeting (88e), allows Spain to join the Netherlands, Italy and Croatia, the other qualified for the final four of the competition. One of these four selections will succeed France, who did not qualify, on the list.
In Braga, during the first half of the game, the Spaniards monopolized the ball, as expected, but without getting the slightest chance.
Lack of rhythm
At a very slow pace, Luis Enrique’s men did not create any gaps and the Portuguese were able to defend calmly without ever being put in danger. Only a strike from Pablo Sarabia, easily blocked by Danilo Pereira, left a shiver in the Lusitanian camp (22e).
Conversely, the 2016 European champions were dangerous and sharp as soon as they had the opportunity. Ruben Neves lit the first fuse of a heavy strike from a corner, forcing Spanish goalkeeper Unaï Simon to work to repel his attempt with both fists (23e).
A few minutes later, on a Portuguese counter-attack, the Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper still had to work to slam a shot from Diogo Jota, well alerted by a long pass from Bruno Fernandes in the area of La Roja (33e). He was then reassured to see a powerful shot from mid-distance from Fernandes spin towards his small outside net, while the whole Braga stadium had believed in the goal (38e).
Upon returning from the locker room, the scenario initially seemed unchanged. Spain continued their pass to ten while still being ineffective offensively.
The Hero Morata
The combined entries of Pedri, Gavi and Yeremi Pino (62e) gave dynamism to the Spanish offensives. Dulled physically, the men of Fernando Santos were content to repel the attacks of their Iberian neighbor as best they could and no longer existed in attack.
They were logically penalized when Dani Carvajal crossed at the far post for Nico Williams, the Athletic Bilbao winger headed the ball into the feet of Alvaro Morata who only had to push the ball deep nets to offer qualification to Spain (88e).
Ruben Neves, Portugal midfielder, regretted the lack of vigilance, at the microphone of public television RTP: “We knew Spain would have the ball a lot, we also knew we had the quality to have the ball, but in the first fifteen minutes we didn’t press well. Then we adjusted, we controlled the game, we had a lot of chances to score, but in the last minutes in a moment of passivity from our team, we conceded a goal. »
Cristiano Ronaldo tried to equalize with a shot from the right in the middle of the box (90e+1) but Unai Simon perfectly stopped the 37-year-old striker’s attempt, preserving the first Spanish victory on Portuguese soil since 2003.