Cristiano Ronaldo proved his enduring value to Portugal by scoring a dramatic late winner as a substitute, while 10-man Spain showcased their resilience by overpowering Switzerland in a thrilling Nations League encounter.
Ronaldo’s Late Winner for Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo, at the age of 39, continues to demonstrate why he remains an indispensable asset for Portugal. Coming on as a halftime substitute, Ronaldo scored an 88th-minute winner to secure a 2-1 victory over Scotland in the Nations League. This goal extended his record to 132 international goals.
Minutes before his decisive goal, Ronaldo had struck both posts within seconds, proving to be a constant threat. Despite not scoring in five games at the recent European Championship, Portugal’s coach Robert Martinez has kept faith in the veteran, and it paid off. Ronaldo had also scored his 900th career goal just three days earlier in a win over Croatia.
Spain’s Resilience Against Switzerland
Spain showcased their resilience by defeating Switzerland 4-1, despite playing with 10 men for the majority of the match. Center back Robin Le Normand received a straight red card in the 20th minute, but Spain had already taken a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Joselu and Fabian Ruiz.
Switzerland managed to pull one back before halftime, but Spain’s substitute Ferran Torres set up Ruiz for his second goal and then scored himself to seal the victory. This win marked Spain’s first in their Nations League title defense.
Modric and Lewandowski Shine
Luka Modric, who turns 39 on Monday, continues to be a key player for Croatia. He scored a stunning free kick to secure a 1-0 win over Poland. This goal was Modric’s 27th in 180 appearances for his country, tying him with Sergio Ramos as the second highest-capped European player in men’s international soccer, only behind Ronaldo.
Robert Lewandowski also made his mark, hitting the goal frame for Poland. Despite his efforts, Poland lost 3-2 to Scotland in their first round of Nations League group games.
Other Notable Matches
- Sweden vs. Estonia: Swedish fans paid tribute to the late Sven-Goran Eriksson with a minute’s silence before their match against Estonia. Sweden won 3-0, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring twice and Alexander Isak adding another goal.
- Denmark vs. Serbia: Denmark secured a 2-0 victory over Serbia, thanks to goals from Albert Gronbaek and Yussuf Poulsen.
These matches highlighted the enduring talent of veteran players and the resilience of teams facing challenging circumstances.
