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As it happenedended1560321909

Portugal vs Netherlands result: Goncalo Guedes goal clinches Nations League final glory for hosts

Re-live the action from the Uefa Nations League final in Porto

Miguel Delaney
Estádio do Dragão, Porto
,Michael Jones
Sunday 09 June 2019 21:37 BST
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Portugal National team training before Nations league semi-final

Goncalo Guedes scored the only goal of the game as Portugal beat Holland to be crowned the first-ever Nations League champions.

The final in Porto was not a game for the ages as a match billed as a battle between the two captains, Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil Van Dijk, was settled by Valencia forward Guedes on the hour mark.

The 1-0 win was enough for the reigning European champions to add the inaugural Nations League crown to their honours list with victory in front of their own fans. Re-live the action below:

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Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Nations League third place play-off between England and Switzerland.

We'll be bringing you all the build-up, analysis and updates from 2pm so make sure to tune in!

Samuel Lovett9 June 2019 09:43
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Southgate not interested in Chelsea role

Gareth Southgate says there is “no way” he would return to club management right now – and the England boss is confident assistant Steve Holland remains similarly committed amid talk of a move to former club Chelsea.

A year on from bowing out of the World Cup in an extra-time semi-final loss to Croatia, the Three Lions are again nursing their wounds after Holland inflicted a 3-1 defeat in the final four of the inaugural Nations League in Portugal.

Southgate was quick to focus on his side’s progress and the attempts to win Euro 2020 on home soil next summer – a mouth-watering opportunity that means a return to club management is not in his thinking right now.

“The only thing on my mind is that we’ve got a European Championship next summer and we’ve got to keep improving this team to be the best possible team we can be for the country,” the former Middlesbrough boss, contracted until the 2022 World Cup, said.

Read more:

Vithushan Ehantharajah9 June 2019 12:23
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A great opportunity for Gaz

There may be little at stake for England today, but that doesn't mean this isn't a great opportunity for Gareth Southgate to learn about his ideal Euro 2020 squad.

Jack Pitt-Brooke, our man in Portugal, has written about how there is more to this match than initially meets the eye.

Vithushan Ehantharajah9 June 2019 12:25
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How England got here

A little reminder, from our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney, of how England ended up in today's third place play-off.

They were sitting pretty against the Netherlands on Thursday night before a defensive capitulation handed the Dutch free passage into the final.

Vithushan Ehantharajah9 June 2019 12:30
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Rooney urges Southgate to keep calm and carry on

Wayne Rooney believes England risk "starting from scratch" if they do not persevere with playing out from defence.

Gareth Southgate's side saw their Nations League ambitions ended by Holland at the semi-final stage on Thursday after being punished for risky play at the back from John Stones and Ross Barkley.

Despite the 3-1 extra-time loss in Portugal, former England captain Rooney has urged Southgate not to ditch his current tactics.

"I think that's where England have got a lot better, playing out from the back and having more possession of the ball than we have had in recent times," the 33-year-old told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

"I'd encourage them to keep playing.

"Mistakes were made and we lost the game but I'm sure those mistakes won't happen again. And if they do and that's the way the manager wants to play then I'm sure the manager will take responsibility and encourage them to keep doing it.

"You can't have a manager saying we want to play out from the back but then you make a mistake and he slaughters you for it. Players can't go 90 minutes, week in, week out, without making mistakes.

"If I was in Gareth's position, I would keep encouraging them to keep doing what they are doing and keep progressing because if you throw the blueprint out of the window now then you're almost starting from scratch again."

Vithushan Ehantharajah9 June 2019 12:35
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Team news is imminent...

Vithushan Ehantharajah9 June 2019 12:37
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Gomez defends Southgate's style

Joe Gomez is another to come out in defence of Gareth Southgate's football philosophy after England's humbling loss to the Netherlands. 

Both John Stones and Ross Barkley made high-profile mistakes in Thursday's semi-final defeat to Holland, with both blunders leading to goals for the Dutch.

Speaking after the 3-1 extra-time loss, England boss Gareth Southgate said he would continue to ask his players to play out from the back, insisting his side "didn't lose the game because of the philosophy."

Gomez backed up his manager's words and said the change in approach is what has led to two semi-final appearances in the space of a year.

"Clearly you could just play it long, but I don't think that is the way," he told Talksport.

Read more:

Vithushan Ehantharajah9 June 2019 12:42
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TEAM NEWS

Vithushan Ehantharajah9 June 2019 12:46
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And once again for the traditionalists...

England (4-3-3): Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Maguire, Gomez, Rose; Delph, Dier, Alli; Lingard, Kane, Sterling.

Vithushan Ehantharajah9 June 2019 12:47
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Gareth Southgate's England men line-up against Switzerland at 2pm for the Nations League third place play-off.

Many people believe this match to be unwanted and unnecessary, especially after a difficult season of football for most of the squad. 

Southgate, however, isn't one of them.

"No England international is a practice match. Every time you wear the shirt there is importance for you, the country and the supporters," he said.

"Individuals have opportunities to impress to make sure their performances keep them involved in the squad.

"We want to finish the season on a good note with a healthy performance. A lot of aspects of our game the other night were very good."

Michael Jones9 June 2019 12:55

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