For the first time in 23 years, Portugal will step onto the pitch without Cristiano Ronaldo anywhere in their setup. Saturday’s match between Portugal vs Denmark at the Braga Municipal Stadium officially opens life after the country’s record goalscorer, coming just days after the 41-year-old forward announced his retirement from international football.
The fixture matters because it offers an immediate verdict on how Portugal handle major tournament football on their own terms. While qualification for the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals is already secure, the Selecao need only a draw to wrap up top spot in Group A4 and confirm their dominance over the section.
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For Denmark, the stakes are far sharper. Kasper Hjulmand’s side sit second in the standings and must beat the hosts away from home while hoping Norway fail to win against Wales to secure passage into the knockout rounds.
How Portugal vs Denmark looks without Ronaldo
Ronaldo’s exit brought a dramatic conclusion to an unmatched international career. The veteran captain released a lengthy video on social media last week to confirm his departure, explaining that the moment had arrived to “pass it on to the future.”
The announcement followed weeks of tension and an open dispute with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus. During the early stages of this Nations League campaign, Jesus left Ronaldo on the bench as an unused substitute in a 2-1 win over Norway. The veteran forward subsequently walked out of the national camp, yet the squad responded without stumbling.
Without their long-serving talisman, Portugal dismantled Denmark 4-2 in Copenhagen on October 1 before securing another 2-1 victory over Norway. Those results preserved a flawless record of four wins from four matches in Group A4, proving the squad could thrive without their iconic number seven.
Ramos and Felix step into the spotlight
The attacking burden has fallen on younger shoulders, and the results have been emphatic. Forwards Goncalo Ramos and Joao Felix have taken charge of the forward line, scoring three goals each across the campaign.
In their earlier meeting with Denmark in Copenhagen, both players found the net alongside Joao Cancelo and Vitinha. That evening demonstrated the fluid passing and rapid movement Jorge Jesus wants from his frontline when operating without a traditional target man anchoring the box.
Denmark, however, possess their own in-form finisher. Striker Rasmus Hojlund has scored three of his team’s seven goals in the competition and struck alongside Mikkel Damsgaard during that October defeat against the Portuguese defense.
What Denmark must overcome in Braga
Denmark enter the weekend after an erratic campaign. They opened Group A4 with a 3-2 defeat in Norway before recovering with a 2-0 home victory over Wales. After the 4-2 loss to Portugal, they steadied themselves by grinding out a 1-0 away win against Wales.
To reach the last eight, they must break Portugal’s perfect record of four consecutive wins in the competition. Opta’s supercomputer rates Denmark’s chances of an upset at just 19.4 percent, while giving the home team a 59.4 percent probability of victory.
Discipline will also shape the visitors’ approach. Aside from missing Patrick Dorgu, Denmark have six squad members who are just one yellow card away from a suspension, meaning any reckless challenges could carry severe consequences for the knockout rounds.
Selection headaches for Jorge Jesus
Portugal will not have things entirely their own way on Saturday night. Suspensions rule out Cancelo and Francisco Conceicao, while injuries have sidelined Rafael Leao, Nuno Mendes and Nuno Tavares.
Those absences force Jesus to shuffle his defensive flanks, with Flavio Nazinho and Renato Veiga expected to feature in a backline anchored by Ruben Dias and Diogo Dalot. In midfield, Ruben Neves, Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes are set to provide the service for Felix and Ramos.
Denmark are projected to counter with Mads Hermansen in goal behind a central defensive pairing of Joachim Andersen and Oliver Provstgaard. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Morten Hjulmand will anchor the midfield, tasked with stopping Portugal’s creative runners before they can supply Hojlund.
Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, at 7:45pm GMT in Braga, where Portugal can formally secure top spot in Group A4.
Source: Al Jazeera
