The European Nations League .. a second victory for Portugal and the first and Spain
Portugees team
Portugal won its second victory in the group stage of the European Football Championship by beating
its guest Czech 2-0, Thursday, while Spain won its first victory at the expense of Switzerland 1-0, in
the second group competitions of the first level.
Portugal topped the group with seven points, in front of Spain, the second (5), and the third Czech (4),
while Switzerland remained without a score.
Portugal began its advice with a 1-1 draw with its host Spain, last Thursday, before it outperformed
Switzerland by four goals, including two goals by star Cristiano Ronaldo, over Switzerland in Lisbon on Sunday.
At the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Joao Cancelo (33) and Goncalo Guedic (38) scored the two goals
of the match in the first half for the champion of the first edition in 2019.
Coach Fernando Santos made four changes to the squad that started Sunday, inserting Bernardo Silva
instead of Ottavio in attack, Guedic in the middle instead of Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Guerrero as left
back in place of Nuno Mendes and goalkeeper Diogo Costa instead of Rui Patricio.
Portugal pressed from the beginning and opened the scoring when Silva passed a beautiful ball between
several players on the right side to Cancelo, coming from behind.
And Manchester City midfielder Silva played the role of the passer again when he passed Binya to
Valencia’s Spanish striker Guedesh inside the area, and he followed it to the right of goalkeeper
Yeendrik Stanek.
In Geneva, Spain scored their first victory with a goal by Pablo Sarabia in the 13th minute.
The La Roja team, runner-up for the last edition last year, tied 2-2 in Czech Republic in its second match,
before coming out with three points for the first time.
Coach Luis Enrique made a radical change to the squad that started the second match, leaving only three
players, Sarabia, Gavi and goalkeeper Unai Simon, and this time played with a stronger squad, pushing
Ferran Torres and Alvaro Morta in the front line, while involving veteran Sergio Busquets in the midfield
and full-backs. Jordi Alba and Cesar Aspilicueta.
Sarabia scored the only goal when the Spaniards lost the ball from a place close to Switzerland and reached
Marcos Llorente, who penetrated to the right and crossed it to the Portuguese striker, Sporting, who
followed it into the net.
The teams of this group conclude the current window with the two matches of Spain with its guest Czech
Republic in Malaga, on Sunday, and Portugal with Switzerland in Geneva on the same day.
A second victory for Portugal and the first for Spain
