Portugal: 2018-19 UEFA Nations League Winners



At a glance
Portugal have added the UEFA Nations League crown to their UEFA EURO 2016 triumph after Gonçalo Guedes's second-half strike downed the Netherlands.

Defences held sway in an even first 59 minutes. Cristiano Ronaldo, Memphis Depay and Bernardo Silva all carried menace, but as soon as they encountered their opponents' defensive walls, impenetrable fortifications marshalled by Virgil van Dijk and José Fonte, they floundered.

Then, on the hour, came the breakthrough. Bernardo Silva looked to have overcooked his disguised pass to Guedes, but the Valencia forward wrapped his foot around it and squeezed a shot inside the post. Despite getting two hands to the ball, Jasper Cillessen could not keep it out.

The Oranje have become used to falling behind and responded gamely, with Depay going close from a header. The Portuguese rearguard held firm, however, with the sight of Ronaldo clearing from open play an indication that it was all hands to the pump. Portugal have done it again.

Man of the match: Rúben Dias
"An assured performance from the young central defender," said UEFA Technical Observer David Moyes. "He played with a lot of confidence and took a lot of responsibility with the absence of Pepe through injury."

View from the stadium
Joe Walker, Portugal
Portugal have gone some way to banishing the demons of 2004 by claiming UEFA Nations League glory on home turf to add to their UEFA EURO 2016 title. On the balance of play, you have to say they were good value for it. Fernando Santos got his selection spot-on, Guedes repaying the faith with a fine winner and Danilo a colossus in midfield.

Derek Brookman, Netherlands
We didn't get to see the dynamic, bold Dutch we've become accustomed to. Frenkie de Jong never got the chance to dictate the rhythm of the game, Georginio Wijnaldum looked a little off the pace, and the gaps between the lines were too great. Maybe the long season finally caught up with the players. The team, nonetheless, can be immensely proud of their progress.

Key stats
1: Portugal are the inaugural UEFA Nations League winners!

4: Gonçalo Guedes's goal was his fourth in 17 appearances for Portugal, and his first competitive international strike.

10: Portugal are unbeaten in their last ten matches (W5 D5).

14: Portugal are 14 competitive games unbeaten on home turf, dating back to September 2014.

50: Jasper Cillessen became only the fifth goalkeeper to earn 50 caps for the Netherlands.

What's next?
A summer of celebrations for Portugal! Eventually, attention will then switch back to UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying this autumn. Portugal resume their title defence away to Serbia on 7 September. The Netherlands face Germany yet again on 6 September – it was, of course, a 3-0 victory against their great neighbours that set the Oranje on the road to the UEFA Nations League final.