COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - OCTOBER 1: Pedro Neto of Portugal controls the ball during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A4 MD3 League Phase match between Denmark and Portugal at Parken Stadium on October 1, 2026 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
It’s probably fair to say that Portugal no longer need Cristiano and they’re probably a better team overall without him.
For the Danes, it was Mads Hermansen in goal this time, with Filip Jörgensen taking a seat on the bench.
He did not walk out on the team just because he went unused.
(He also did not walk out on the team as a result.)
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - OCTOBER 1: Pedro Neto of Portugal controls the ball during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A4 MD3 League Phase match between Denmark and Portugal at Parken Stadium on October 1, 2026 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo by Ernest Kolodziej/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) Getty Images
Pedro Neto may have been kept off the scoresheet, but he had himself a pretty good game as Portugal notched yet another victory in this international break, this time putting four past Denmark. Portugal have lost just one game in the last ten months or so, and that was to the eventual champions at the World Cup, so they are certainly on a roll at the moment and looking fairly imperious as well.
In fact, everyone had a pretty good game for Portugal in the 4-2 win over Denmark, especially in attack, which was all the more notable for the drama in the build-up to it, which saw Cristiano Ronaldo throw a tantrum and walk out on the team (and/or retire from international duty). The veteran forward had not featured against Norway in the previous game (after a dispute with the manager, Jorge Jesus) and went an unused substitute for just the third time in his 234-cap international career. Time comes for us all in the end, Cris.
It’s probably fair to say that Portugal no longer need Cristiano and they’re probably a better team overall without him.
For the Danes, it was Mads Hermansen in goal this time, with Filip Jörgensen taking a seat on the bench. He did not walk out on the team just because he went unused.
Elsewhere on Thursday, the Netherlands scored late to snatch a 2-2 draw against Greece, with Jorrel Hato once again not featuring even for a single minute. (He also did not walk out on the team as a result.)
