Portugal manager Fernando Santos has been at the helm of the national team since 2014 and had it’s ups and downs (more ups than downs), but one thing has remained a constant thing in these 8 years: the Portuguese coach doesn’t lose against Spain. Yes, Santos’ men lost unexpectedly against Ukraine in 2019, or against Uruguay in the last 16 at the last World Cup, or against Serbia in Portugal in the World Cup’s qualifying decider, but, La Roja has always been a ’loyal customer’ to Santos. Spain has never been able to beat Portugal with Fernando Santos on the bench. Spain also don’t have such a good record when travelling to Portugal either – they haven’t won there since 2003, 19 years ago, when they won 0-3 in Guimaraes. Moreover, the Spanish team has not beaten Portugal since the round of 16 of the World Cup in South Africa, which was 10 years ago. Technically, Spain did beat Portugal in the Euro 2012 semi-final shootout, but but the game actually ended 0-0 in Donetsk. And the the last five games between both teams have ended in a draw.1934 – @SEFutbol 🇪🇸 haven’t won against Portugal 🇵🇹 in a competitive game away from home since March 1934, when they won by 2-1 in World Cup Qualifiers with a brace by Isidro Lángara. Challenge.#NationsLeague #PORESP pic.twitter.com/AxWFyzAjjn— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 27, 2022 So, ahead of tonight deciding game, Spain coach Luis Enrique is fighting against tradition too. And a quick look at the table will reveal that anything but a win will be a defeat for Spain. After a surprise defeat from Switzerland, La Roja is two points behind Portugal, and they need a win to top the table and go to the Final four with Croatia, Italy and Holland. But Enrique also knows how strong Portugal really is, in fact he complimented them at the expense of his own squad, but vowed to fight like it’s the finals.”It’s a final and we’ll face the game like that. We’ll play like it’s the quarter-finals in Qatar. They are one of the favourites, as Spain are too. It’s the fourth time we’ve played against them recently and we drew the first three of those. I think we had three good games, we could not beat them and they could not beat us. With all due respect to the current Spanish squad, Portugal has more accomplished players than Spain. Players who are starters in the Premier League, La Liga and other championships. They have won the European Championship and the Nations League. In the inferior categories, the two are among the best in the world” explained Enrique.NATIONS LEAGUE: Merciless Portuguese check-out the Czech, Swiss set plays lethal for SpainSpain coach has a big dilemma ahead of this match – to field the strongest team or to give chance to some fringe players, as a way to test their resilience ahead of the World Cup. So far, he promised to field the strongest 11, no matter their age or current form in their clubs, but the ’strongest 11’ is a vague expression. One thing is certain thou, he supports it’s defenders, who were criticized after receiving two goals from corners in a 1-2 home loss to Switzerland. In fact, he was even stubborn towards the press.”I think that the strongest line of the team I have is the defence, despite what you think. They all defend, from the strikers to the midfielders, and in attack it’s the same, the first to do it is Unai Simon, the goalkeeper. However much you might think the reverse, the strongest line of the team I have is the defence” said Enrique. That defense will be up against Cristiano Ronaldo, who completed a full training after a nasty bruise he got during the 4-0 win against Czech Republic in the last round.UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE – GROUP STAGETuesdayUEFA Nations League, League A, Gr. 221:45 Portugal – Spain21:45 Switzerland – Czech Republic
