Chapter 970: Chen Zhong! Chen Zhong! Chen Zhong!_3

When Spain Team twice led through Yamal’s breakout on the wing, Portugal team was always able to quickly equalize by speeding up through midfield.

In the 26th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo cleverly orchestrated an attack, and Neto precisely crossed the ball in front of the goal, with Mendes swiftly darting in for a powerful shot to score;

In the 61st minute, Mendes broke through and crossed, causing defensive chaos, and Cristiano Ronaldo calmly cushioned the ball to score.

This strategy of “countering ball control with speed, solving passing with efficiency” was meticulously designed by Martinez to target the weakness of Spain’s defensive line’s slow turns.

Under the guidance of the new tactics, Cristiano Ronaldo and the new stars have achieved integration, breaking Portugal’s long-standing record of not winning against Spain.

The Portugal team not only rejuvenated itself with new energy and vitality but also achieved symbiosis and integration of new and veteran players. Legendary player Cristiano Ronaldo showcased his excellent competitive state and leadership charisma in the match, writing a glorious chapter for the Portugal team together with the young players.

This Euro League final was not only a comprehensive test of Martinez’s tactical system but also a profound manifestation of the spirit of teamwork and cooperation between new and veteran players.

Forty-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo once again became the focus, with his cushioned shot in the 61st minute not only refreshing his personal career and national team goal records but also continuing to update the Euro League’s top scorer record with outstanding performance.

When he left the field injured in the 78th minute, all fans stood up to salute him, a scene that moved people deeply.

Twenty-three-year-old Nuno Mendes announced the rise of the new generation with two crucial goals, his speed and finishing ability attracting attention.

Bruno Fernandes’ all-powerful performance in midfield was equally stunning, setting team history finals records with 7 interceptions and 6 key passes.

The Portugal team demonstrated strong psychological resilience and teamwork, especially showcasing remarkable stability in the penalty shootout.

After Morata’s penalty was blocked by Costa, Portuguese players did not fall into a frenzy but exhibited stunning calmness.

They successfully scored all five penalties, this impressive stability owes to Martinez’s meticulous pre-match planning.

Throughout the knockout rounds, the Portugal team consistently maintained a high penalty kick success rate, demonstrating psychological resilience in the quarter-final and semi-final, embodying team-first philosophy and steadfast belief.

Martinez constructed a roster combining new and veteran players, changing the situation of excessive reliance on stars, thus making the team possess strong tactical flexibility.

Despite Cristiano Ronaldo still being in excellent form, Martinez has started to build a Portugal team for the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era.

The roster structure he meticulously crafted stands out in European football, led by veterans over 30, joined by the middle generation of 25-30-year-olds, along with newcomers under 25 forming a golden echelon.

On a tactical level, Martinez displayed extremely high flexibility, adjusting tactical plans according to actual circumstances.

For example, when facing teams with excellent passing and ball control capabilities, he would adopt a 4-2-3-1 defensive counterattack tactic. This tactical flexibility allowed Portugal to show strong adaptability in the 2026 World Cup qualifications.

The more profound impact lies in Martinez successfully breaking Portugal football’s long-term reliance on star players.

From another perspective, the overall strength of the Portugal team is still stronger than that of the current China team. For the China team, it is another test. By defeating Portugal, they will advance to the next round of the round of 16, where their opponent might be South Korea or Japan, and in the quarter-final, it seems likely to be England or Spain, while in the final semi-final if the German team from the upper bracket could reach there, they will face off against Germany. As for the final stage, if the China team can make it that far, there is a high chance they will meet France Team, and by then Chen Zhong will encounter many of his teammates from Real Madrid.