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UEFA Nations League: Cristiano Ronaldo Shines On Portugal Return

UEFA Nations League: Cristiano Ronaldo Shines On Portugal Return

Portugal maintained their perfect start in Group 3 of League A after beating ten-man Sweden 2-0 at Friends Arena.

The Selecao captain Cristiano Ronaldo recovered from his toe infection to start at the expense of Diogo Jota in the only change made by manager Fernando Santos.

The hosts were reduced to ten men on the stroke of halftime after Gustav Svensson received his second yellow card for a lunging tackle on Joao Moutinho.

Ronaldo provided a double blow for Sweden, as he broke the deadlock for Portugal from the resultant free-kick, arrowing a powerful strike from 25-yards that found the top corner for his 100th international goal.

Ronaldo doubled Portugal's lead with 18 minutes left after cutting inside from Joao Felix's pass and curled a strike into the far corner from just outside the box to complete his brace.

Fernando Santos' troops top the section with six points, equal with second-placed France but they have a superior goal difference while Sweden were left in third place.

France maintained their 100 percent record after coming from behind to thrash Croatia 4-2 at Stade de France.

Les Bleus made wholesale changes, with forward Kylian Mbappe not in the squad after he tested positive for Covid-19. Meanwhile, the likes of Anthony Martial, Moussa Sissoko and Ferland Mendy got rare starts.

The Vatreni drew first blood in the 16th minute after Dejan Lovren showed great skill to a control a header from a corner and smashed home a powerful strike past shot-stopper Hugo Lloris but Didier Deschamps' charges levelled matters two minutes before the break thanks to a sublime flick from Antoine Griezmann.

France made it 2-1 in first-half stoppage time after Martial fired home a strike from Wissam Ben Yedder's cross that took a deflection off goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic and hit the post before crossing the goal-line.

Josip Brekalo levelled matters for Croatia ten minutes from the break after turning around Mendy inside the box and fired a low strike past Lloris at his near post.

Dayotchanculle Upamecano gave Les Bleus the lead from behind again in the 65th minute with a powerful downward header while Olivier Giroud's penalty in the 13th minute sealed the win for the world champions.

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