Portugal host Denmark in Braga on 14 November, with the Group A4 lead at stake

Group A4 decider

Portugal host Denmark at the Estádio Municipal de Braga on Saturday, 14 November 2026, with kick-off at 19:45 and live coverage on RTP1. The match is the fifth round of Nations League Group A4. Portugal lead the group with 12 points and have already booked a place in the quarter-finals, so a win would confirm first place and the top seeding for that round. Denmark sit second on six points, and Jesus expects the Danes to contest the second spot with Norway. Slovenian referee Rade Obrenovic will take charge of the game.

Portugal12

Denmark6

Portugal

12 points

Denmark

6 points

Data from the article text

Squad selection and possible debutants

Jesus said two full-backs are unavailable, one suspended and one injured, so two players must come into the side. Nuno Mendes and João Cancelo will miss the match, and Jesus described them as among the best in the world in their position, with attacking qualities the team will lose. Alberto Costa and Flávio Nazinho are the names put forward as possible debutants, with Nazinho called up as a replacement. João Neves, who has played at right-back before, was also discussed as an option. Jesus said he would confirm his starting eleven only an hour before kick-off and that the choice rests on the team's interests.

“If player A or B is the best option for the team, I give him the opportunity.”

Jesus added that seven players are on the edge of a yellow-card suspension, a risk he called a reality rather than a problem. He said he would not pick the side with the Wales match in mind and would focus on Denmark.

Ronaldo tribute and the forwards

Jesus called the Portuguese Football Federation's idea of honouring Cristiano Ronaldo brilliant, crediting the federation and its president Pedro Proença. He pointed to Ronaldo's 23 years with the national team and described him as a figure who cannot be forgotten.

“It is important not to forget that Cris is a legend of Portuguese football.”

On the attack, Jesus described Gustavo Varela as a pure centre-forward, closer to Gonçalo Ramos, and said Varela is the top scorer in Italy's Serie A. Fábio Silva, who often plays as a second striker at Borussia Dortmund, moves more and can carry the ball and build play alone. Jesus said Denmark had studied how Portugal defend with their last line, particularly the centre-backs, and that Portugal accept the risks that come with that approach.

Denmark's response

Morten Hjulmand, now at Atlético Madrid, said the September defeat to Portugal hurt and showed Portugal's strength. He recalled scoring the second goal of Sporting's 4-2 win over Braga on 10 November 2024, Rúben Amorim's last match before joining Manchester United. Hjulmand, 27, spent three seasons at Sporting and praised the stadium's atmosphere. He also paid tribute to Rui Borges, who has left Sporting, and noted that Sporting sit nine points behind the league leaders.

“We analysed the match on video, and we will try to improve defensively and to take advantage of our physical condition.”

Hjulmand said Denmark plans to open the game up to use its physical strength. Denmark's coach had handed Portugal the favourites' tag, which Jesus called normal, given that Portugal top the group.

Bernardo Silva and the midfield

Jesus described Bernardo Silva as a thinker and organiser who plays as an inside midfielder and is not yet a defensive player. He said Bernardo's development at Real Madrid is improving with intensity and that coaches want players with these traits, like Vitinha and João Neves. Bernardo Silva could wear the captain's armband that Ronaldo used to wear if he starts against Denmark.