Portugal Thrashes Denmark 4-2 Despite Ronaldo Departure; Klopp Secures First Germany Win
SingTao · 3 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Portugal secured a commanding 4-2 victory over Denmark in the UEFA Nations League on Friday, recording three consecutive wins in Group A4 despite Cristiano Ronaldo's controversial departure from the national team camp earlier this week. Goncalo Ramos, who started in place of Ronaldo, delivered a standout performance with one goal and one assist. Meanwhile, Germany claimed their first Nations League win under new coach Jurgen Klopp, defeating Serbia 2-0.
Key Points
- Portugal took a 13th-minute lead through Joao Cancelo, who converted a pass from Goncalo Ramos
- Denmark equalised in the 23rd minute via a goal from Damsgaard before Bruno Fernandes set up Ramos to restore Portugal's lead in the 25th minute
- After Denmark equalised again in the 53rd minute, Vitinha and Joao Felix scored in the 67th and 87th minutes respectively to seal a 4-2 win
- Ronaldo left the Portugal squad in protest over his lack of playing time and comments made by coach Jorge Jesus at a press conference
- Coach Jesus stated that the squad remains united and fully supports him, with players showing clearer tactical understanding
- In the same group, Wales came from behind to beat Norway 2-1 after a Norwegian player was sent off in the 46th minute
- Germany defeated Serbia 2-0 with goals from Bischoff and Gross in each half, giving Klopp his first Nations League victory since taking charge
- Swimming star Ho Pei-mui won silver in the 50m freestyle at the World Cup Baku stop, breaking the Asian short-course record with a time of 23.48 seconds
Why It Matters
Portugal's convincing win without their all-time leading scorer demonstrates the depth of talent available to coach Jesus and suggests the national team can remain competitive even without Ronaldo, who at 41 shows no indication of international retirement according to the Portuguese Football Federation . For Hong Kong fans, the Nations League results provide crucial context for evaluating European national teams ahead of upcoming international fixture windows, while Ho Pei-mui's record-breaking swim continues to elevate Hong Kong's sporting profile on the world stage .
Portugal's convincing win without their all-time leading scorer demonstrates the depth of talent available to coach Jesus and suggests the national team can remain competitive even without Ronaldo, who at 41 shows no indication of international retirement according to the Portuguese Football Federation . For Hong Kong fans, the Nations League results provide crucial context for evaluating European national teams ahead of upcoming international fixture windows, while Ho Pei-mui's record-breaking swim continues to elevate Hong Kong's sporting profile on the world stage .