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Portugal claim first Nations League title with victory over Netherlands

Portugal secured Nations League glory as Goncalo Guedes’ second-half strike earned a 1-0 victory over Netherlands at the Estadio do Dragao.

The host nation had been touted as favourites ahead of the inaugural Finals and they lived up to that billing in Porto, adding more major silverware to their European Championship triumph three years ago. Cristiano Ronaldo had netted a hat-trick in the 3-1 semi-final win over Switzerland but he was kept relatively quiet on this occasion by Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt.

Instead it was left to Guedes to settle matters, exchanging passes with Bernardo Silva and smashing home from the edge of the box, although Jasper Cillessen may feel he could have done better.
Portugal return to Euro 2020 qualifying with a trip to Serbia in September, when Netherlands will face a crunch clash against rivals Germany.

England beat Swiss on pens in 3rd-place play-off

England’s keeper Jordan Pickford scored and saved in a shootout as they beat Switzerland 6-5 on penalties to finish third in the Nations League on Sunday after the game ended goalless following extra time.
Pickford produced an outstanding save to keep out Josip Drmic’s spot kick low to his right to win the game, after both teams had converted all their previous penalties.

The Everton keeper had rifled home a spot kick himself with a thundering left-foot strike, making him the first-ever goalkeeper to take and score a penalty for England in a competitive shootout, as Gareth Southgate’s side got a deserved win after dominating the game.

England, who were beaten by the Netherlands after extra time in their semi-final on Thursday, picked up their first victory in a third-place playoff game since the 1968 European Championship.

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