REPORT | A perfect plan to fight against every obstacle in the path (0-1)

We warned in the pre-match that this team is fearless especially when the qualification was at stake against the almighty Portugal in a stadium carved out of rock inside an old quarry.

After losing to Switzerland, the final four of the Nations League seemed distant in time and space, but this team has once again shown that they can die of anything, but fear, as Luis Enrique said the day before the match.

The national coach made seven changes from the start in Braga and Portugal was encouraged by their fans. They Portuguese team opened the way for Spain during the first half, but they also took advantage of its speed in the transitions to have the best chances.

Although Sarabia warned after just eight minutes following a recovery, the Portuguese multiplied in counterattacks, breakaways and dangerous shots from the front by William Carvalho, Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota above all after the half-hour mark. He run into an unstoppable Unai Simón, who was like an impenetrable wall at A Pedreira.

Portugal had more chances than Spain and after the half-time, Cristiano Ronaldo had another shot, but Unai saved it slamming it wide.

The draw favoured the Lusitanians, but then Luis Enrique made a strategic genius move with a triple substitution - Pedri, Gavi, Yéremy Pino - they brought youth, confidence, daring and vertical sense into the Spanish game.

Shortly afterwards, Nico Williams came to play and the Portuguese team was struck by the fear of someone whose goal was just a few minutes away from the end.

With barely 120 seconds left and after a number of chances, a cross from Carvajal was tamed by Nico Williams allowing Morata to shoot into the back of the goal.

It was the fact that changed everything, together with another great save by Unai Simón from Cristiano Ronaldo's shot and a perfect plan to round off a great group stage for Spain.

Now it comes an intense period of three months for the National team, which will be back in June next year to fight for another trophy: the kingdom of success is still in progress.