Match ends, Portugal 1, Netherlands 0.
PortugalPortugal1NetherlandsNetherlands0
Hosts Portugal claimed their second trophy in three years by beating the Netherlands to win the inaugural Nations League.
Fernando Santos' side triumphed at the 2016 European Championship and Goncalo Guedes' second half strike gave them a narrow victory in Porto which Santos said was evidence of their unity as a team.
"For the last five years, we have been an almost indestructible family who know what we are capable of doing," he said. "We knew we could win this match."
The victory was achieved through Guedes, the Valencia winger smashing in from the edge of the area following Bernardo Silva's clever cutback, though Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen will be disappointed he did not keep the effort out.
The Dutch looked to get back into the game but Memphis Depay's powerful header was well saved by Wolves number one Rui Patricio and ex-Middlesbrough midfielder Marten de Roon lashed over.
England finished third in the tournament after a victory on penalties over Switzerland in Guimaraes.
Ronaldo kept quiet by Van Dijk
The game was billed on the clash of the two influential captains - Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Netherlands centre-back Virgil van Dijk.
Both players claimed silverware at club level last season, Ronaldo winning the Serie A title with Juventus, while Van Dijk contributed to ending Liverpool's seven year wait for a trophy by triumphing in the Champions League.
Ronaldo, 34, scored a sublime hat-trick in the semi-final victory over Switzerland but was unable to add to his 88 international goals, seeing a thumping, goalbound drive blocked by the towering Van Dijk.
The closest he came to netting was when he skipped past two defenders from the left, but stuck a shot straight at Barcelona's Cillessen. He also smashed a free-kick wide late on.
Former Southampton and Celtic player Van Dijk was his solid, assured self at the back but could do nothing about the winning goal, though Cillessen was unable to keep out Guedes' strike having got a hand on the effort.
Manchester City's Silva, who set up the goal, said: "I am very happy and very proud. It is my first title with Portugal. After the amazing season with my club, to finish this way is amazing. It is time to rest now and prepare for next season and try to do even better.
"The most important thing is that Portugal won. If you can add to that individual awards, then even better."
Portugal are now unbeaten in their last 10 games and despite defeat, Netherlands - who have failed to reach the last two major tournaments - will take heart from their progress since the appointment of Ronald Koeman as boss.
"They were masters at defending when they were ahead," said Koeman. "We should have been a bit more clever in looking for free kicks. We were not good enough tonight."
How did two potential summer movers do?
With the international transfer window about to open on Tuesday, clubs will be gearing up to complete signings in time for the new season.
Two players who have been heavily linked with moves were in action in the final and highlighted why their signatures will be so sought after.
Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes, linked with a reported £68m move to either Manchester United or Tottenham, scored 32 goals and provided 17 assists for Sporting Lisbon last season.
The 24-year-old was one of the best players on the field with his lively movement and eye for goal. His six shots in the match were more than any other player, forcing Cillessen into making saves, albeit to efforts from long range.
Netherlands defender Matthijs de Ligt is another who has been heavily linked with a move to United as well as Barcelona and the teenager captained Ajax to a Dutch league and cup double.
Playing alongside Van Dijk, the 19-year-old impressed at the back once more, contributing six clearances and three tackles for his side and also winning the ball back three times.
Dutch despair - the stats
- Portugal are the first European nation to host and win a final of a major competition since France beat Brazil 3-0 in the final of the 1998 World Cup.
- The Netherlands have lost four of their last five finals in major international tournaments (three in the World Cup, once in the Nations League).
- They remain winless against Portugal when playing them in Portugal, drawing two and losing four of their six such meetings.
- Goncalo Guedes has been directly involved in five goals in his last eight appearances for Portugal (three goals and two assists).
- No Portugal player has been directly involved in more goals than Bernardo Silva in the Nations League this season (3 - joint-most with Cristiano Ronaldo and Andre Silva), while he also made the most assists of any Portuguese player (2).
- The Netherlands' first shot in this game came in the 65th minute; by which time Portugal had already had 14 shots and opened the scoring.
- Jasper Cillessen became the fifth goalkeeper to reach 50 international appearances for the Netherlands, after Edwin Van Der Sar (130), Hans Van Breukelen (73), Maarten Stekelenburg (58) and Gejus Van Der Meulen (54).
- The Netherlands fielded the same starting XI in consecutive games for the first time since October 2014 (under Guus Hiddink).
Line-ups
Portugal
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Rui Patrício
- 20Nélson Semedo
- 6José Fonte
- 4Rúben Dias
- 5Guerreiro
- 16Bruno FernandesSubstituted forJoão Moutinhoat 81'minutes
- 13Danilo
- 14William CarvalhoSubstituted forNevesat 90+3'minutes
- 10Bernardo Silva
- 7Cristiano Ronaldo
- 17Gonçalo GuedesSubstituted forFerreira Silvaat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Cancelo
- 8João Moutinho
- 9Ferreira Sousa
- 11Jota
- 12Malheiro de Sá
- 15Ferreira Silva
- 18Neves
- 19Mário Rui
- 21Afonso Fernandes
- 22Beto
- 23Sequeira
Netherlands
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Cillessen
- 22DumfriesBooked at 88mins
- 3de Ligt
- 4van DijkBooked at 90mins
- 17Blind
- 15de RoonSubstituted forde Jongat 81'minutes
- 21de Jong
- 7BergwijnSubstituted forvan de Beekat 60'minutes
- 8Wijnaldum
- 9BabelSubstituted forPromesat 45'minutes
- 10Depay
Substitutes
- 2Hateboer
- 5Aké
- 6Pröpper
- 11Promes
- 12van Aanholt
- 13Vermeer
- 14de Vrij
- 16Strootman
- 18Vilhena
- 19de Jong
- 20van de Beek
- 23Bizot
- Referee:
- Alberto Undiano Mallenco
- Attendance:
- 43,199
Match Stats
Home TeamPortugalAway TeamNetherlands
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away1
- Corners
- Home10
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Portugal 1, Netherlands 0.
Substitution
Substitution, Portugal. Rúben Neves replaces William Carvalho.
Booking
Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Luuk de Jong (Netherlands).
Post update
José Fonte (Portugal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. João Moutinho (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Booking
Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands).
Post update
Rafa (Portugal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by William Carvalho (Portugal).
Post update
Attempt saved. Nélson Semedo (Portugal) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Bernardo Silva.
Post update
Attempt missed. Luuk de Jong (Netherlands) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Daley Blind with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Daley Blind with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Netherlands. Conceded by Rui Patrício.
Substitution
Substitution, Portugal. João Moutinho replaces Bruno Fernandes.
Substitution
Substitution, Netherlands. Luuk de Jong replaces Marten de Roon.
Post update
Attempt saved. Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Rafa.
Comments
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And probably a different system. Without Stones there to assist them they looked devoid of ideas.
The Portuguese have progressed beyond the "give it to Ronaldo" team. As/when he retires from international football they'll probably cope quite well.
Decent final for a 1-0. Portugal well deserved winners.
Really? He lost BBC, stop hyping him up just because he plays for Liverpool.
The football systems in Portugal and Holland deserve the credit for discovering and developing these players.
Van Dijk perennial loser
Apart from winning the greatest club trophy a player can win in the champions league haha 🥇🏆
Go away clueless bitter jealous troll 😂
I’m sure Van Dijk will be fine wiping his tears with his Champions League medal
Dutch need better strikers then they could be a real force.
It’s worth pointing out that the Champions League and Europa League trophies are currently both held by Premier League Clubs.
The difference between them is Ronaldo can will his team to win when the going gets tough and Messi just hangs his head.