Germany and Portugal Open Fire in Pursuit of Spain's Crown

Germany and Portugal will kick off the 'final four' of the Nations League this Wednesday, where the crown claimed by Spain two years ago in Rotterdam is at stake. With the reigning champions awaiting their turn to face France on Thursday in Stuttgart, the 'Mannschaft' hopes to capitalize on its status as host to overcome a 'Seleçao' once again led by the tireless Cristiano Ronaldo in Munich, keeping alive the hope of delighting their fans and recovering from the disappointment suffered during the European Championship.

The German national team has not tasted glory for eleven years. After brilliantly winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, they have been in a long valley of tears, which they also failed to leave behind in the European Championship held last year on German soil. Spain prevented it, defeating the team led by Julian Nagelsmann in the quarter-finals, marking the last dance of Toni Kroos with the German national jersey.

Without the retired metronome from Greifswald or the injured Jamal Musiala, the 'Mannschaft' will rely on Florian Wirtz, the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker, to carry the creative weight against Portugal. Wirtz aims to distance himself from the media noise surrounding his future during a summer where he has been a major protagonist in the transfer market, leading the aspirations of a team that will miss the leadership of the also injured Antonio Rüdiger in defense but celebrates the return of Marc-André ter Stegen to the goal after eight months.

The Mönchengladbach goalkeeper, whose future at Barça is uncertain as the Catalans close in on Joan García, will face a stern test against a Portuguese team still led by Cristiano Ronaldo. At 40, the Al Nassr forward maintains his ambition to continue making history with the Portuguese team, with which he won the first edition of the Nations League in 2019 and dreams of returning to the top while pursuing his chances of playing in the Club World Cup amid a tug-of-war with Saudi Arabia.

With 136 goals in 239 international matches, the Funchal star is the role model for the new wave of young Portuguese talents who must lead the generational change in the team managed by Roberto Martínez. "The important thing is to have a dressing room where experienced players welcome the young ones. Because it is very, very different when experienced players do not open their arms to new talents. Currently, we have shown that it is not a mix of one generation, but of four or five. We have a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, then we have players in between like Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva. And then there is the younger generation, and I think there is a new generation on the rise: Geovany Quenda and other players we have seen in the under-17 team doing a fantastic job," says the Spanish coach.

For now, Roberto Martínez could give Rodrigo Mora, a Porto gem who has scored 10 goals and provided four assists with the Dragoes this season at the age of 18, a chance with the senior team in this Nations League. "He is going to make an era in Portuguese football," predicted the Portuguese coach about the prodigy who is the great novelty in a squad that also includes the recent European champions with PSG Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, and Joao Neves.

Germany: Ter Stegen, Kimmich, Tah, Koch, Raum, Goretzka, Gross, Adeyemi, Wirtz, Sané, and Füllkrug.

Portugal: Diogo Costa, Dalot, Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Leao.

Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia).

Time: 21:00 h.

Stadium: Allianz Arena.

TV: La 1.