Michelle Fatima
2019 has been a very exciting year for football fans as football leagues all around the world are introducing new talent. Similarly, the thrilling and unpredictable games have been a source of entertainment for football fanatics and pundits alike. The 2018-19 season of the UEFA Nations League has come to an end yesterday. The game was the center of attention for all football fans worldwide as it was the last time they got to see their favorites in action before the league seasons officials start in summer.
The final was held between the Dutch and the Portuguese at Estádio do Dragão. Whether you call it a lucky charm or the motivation of playing in one’s own country, there is no denying that the Portuguese team was a force to reckon with as the game ended with a 1-0 win for Portugal.
The goal difference might not seem very overwhelming at first but the game itself was exhilarating as the Spanish team were successful in penetrating Netherland’s strong defense, even if it was in the second half. The excellent duo of defenders of the Dutch team, De Ligt and Van Dijk were surely a threat to the opponent team but at the end, Portugal succeeded in finding a loophole which allowed Spanish striker Guedes to score the only goal of the match a 60 minutes into the game.
During the first half of the game, the frustration was evident as the Portuguese star player and global football sensation, Cristiano Ronaldo tried to score an early goal in order to secure their position but Cillessen, the Dutch goalkeeper was able to get hold of it. However, the same cannot be said for when Guedes shot past the goalkeeper with an assist from Silva, who has reportedly said that he only heard Guedes shout before passing the ball.
Despite the fact that Guedes was the goal scorer, Ronaldo’s presence was ever-intimidating as his excellent leadership qualities have reached their prime time. Ronaldo could be seen leading his team an guiding them throughout the match which tells us that not only is he a star player, but an exceptional captain as well. This compels us to wonder if he will ever explore coaching as a profession after retirement.
