40-year-old Ronaldo s finals! Portugal ended five consecutive losses and stood close to the European League final

Portuguese football has been a little frustrated in recent years. As European Cup champions, they always have a bad tone in the World Cup and European Cup, especially Ronaldo, who is 40 years old and is still pointed at by others, saying that "occupies a position and does not allow young people to take the lead." This sounds quite harsh, but competitive sports are so realistic - if you can't win the ball, you're even breathing wrong. But how can the word "say conceal" be found in the dictionary of veterans? When the war in the European League began, the team that was seen as bad suddenly seemed to have changed their side: they played smoothly in the group stage, and they even played a heartbeat against Denmark in the knockout stage, and they reversed and advanced in two rounds. Some people say this is a "return to the future", but who would have thought that they met the opponent they least wanted to encounter in the semi-finals - Germany.

The formation before the fateful showdown

Speaking of Portugal and Germany, it is simply a script of "cats and mice" - Germany has won all the battles in the past five times, and every time it has put Portugal in breathlessness. Before this semi-final, Portuguese coach Martinez gritted his teeth and arranged a 433 formation. Anyone with discerning eyes could see that the familiar No. 7 was standing on the front line again - Ronaldo played for the country for the 220th time, and partnered with Neto and Trincon to form a trident. There is a "double B combination" between B and B and Fei in the midfield, but the defense line is a bit worrying: Joao Neves actually played the right-back. Is this trick a good move or a stupid move? Looking at Germany, Nagelsmann's 3421 formation clearly shows that it is necessary to oppress. Behind the goal guarded by Ter Stegen is the three central defenders composed of Koch and Anton, a group of "meat grinders" in the midfield, and Wirtz and Sane are eyeing each other on the front line - no matter how you look at it, Portugal is all against the wind.

First half: The goalkeeper and the forward line were full of gunpowder at the beginning of the game. In the third minute, Germany called Portugal a "superior": Werz's long diagonal pass from the left was like a scalpel, and he accurately found Kimmich at the back point, and the latter knocked back in the inverted triangle, and Gretzka hit the ball with a kick - unfortunately his strength was too light and he was steadily confiscated by Costa. This ball made the Portuguese defense line sweat in a cold sweat, but unexpectedly, 7 minutes later, their own forward line also threatened: Mendes made a straight pass from the left, Nero made a cross from the bottom, Ronaldo stopped the ball and shot, the whole set of movement was smooth, but Ter Stegen touched it with his fingertips and missed the post.

Watching Portugal gradually finds its rhythm, Germany begins to put pressure again. In the 19th minute, Pavlovic suddenly fell to the ground while making a ball in the penalty area. The referee did not respond. Wattelmad followed and pushed the ball with a kick. Costa saved the ball with a side save. Two minutes later, Sane cut inside from the right and passed by crossing, Gretzka shot again, and Costa again - the goalkeeper became Portugal's "guardian" in the first half, dragging the score to 0-0. During the intermission, it was estimated that the tea cups in Martinez's locker room would be crushed: there are many opportunities, why can't I score the goal?

Second half: Reversing the script and the veteran's stubbornness

The change of sides and the fight again, neither side was in a hurry to substitution. It was not until the 47th minute that Portugal ushered in the first real opportunity: Mendes broke through the cross from the left, and Ronaldo made a back-point shot-drift! If this ball is scored, the story behind may be different. But football is so cruel. If you don’t seize the opportunity, your opponent will give you a fatal blow. One minute later, Werz cut in from the left, Kimmich passed by a pick-up pass, the former headed the ball, 1-0! Germany was in an instant at home, but Portugal's bench was silent.

At this time, Martinez couldn't sit still, and in the 58th minute, three people were replaced: Vitinia, Concesan and Semedo. No one expected that these three people would become the key to reversal. In the 63rd minute, Kong Sesan got the ball from the right, and a change direction passed the defensive player. The front of the penalty area suddenly kicked up - the ball flew into the dead corner like a shell! Ter Stegen didn't even make a save, 1-1! The Portuguese bench jumped up, and the fans in the stands had already started singing the national anthem.

What makes people excited is still the next step. Five minutes later, B Fei made a straight pass from the middle, Mendes made a cross from the bottom from the left, Ronaldo rushed to the game and shot the empty goal! twenty one! The 37-year-old veteran ran wildly with his arms spread out, with a sense of fighting in the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes - who would say he "hinders young people"? Take a look at the data: 7 goals in the UEFA Nations League in the last 8 games, 137 goals in the national team, 937 goals in their careers, this is not a "veteran", it is clearly a tireless goal machine!

Epilogue: The Pillar's Shock and the Rewrite of Destiny

For the rest of the time, both sides were red in their eyes. In the 82nd minute, Kong Saisan cut in from the right, shot into the far corner, and the ball flew out against the post - just a little bit away! Germany was not idle either. Adeyemi forced a breakthrough on the left side of the penalty area, and shot a strong shot on the post and bounced out, making people's heart jump out. In stoppage time, Ronaldo was still running all over the field. Mendes found him through a long pass and he knocked back to Jota, but unfortunately the latter's shot was saved by Ter Stegen. But this is no longer important. When the final whistle sounded, the score was frozen at 2-1 - Portugal ended its five-game losing streak against Germany, defeating its opponent again after 25 years and advancing to the finals! After this game, the controversy over Ronaldo will probably only be more intense. Some people say he is the "stationary needle" and proves his value with goals; some people say that Portugal's victory depends on overall performance, and replacement of famous brands is the key. But it is undeniable that when everyone thought he should "abdicate", he told the world with his actions: there is always the last bullet in the veteran's fuel tank. But then again, young players in Portugal should think about it - if they always rely on a 40-year-old veteran to carry it, when will this "golden generation" be taken over? Perhaps, facing Spain or France in the final is the real test: is it the veteran who continues to write legends, or is it that young people stand up to prove themselves? Let's wait and see.