From Ignatius to CR7. Who passed and who failed JJ's first tests?

Quatro games, four wins, nine goals scored, four suffered and guaranteed clearance for the final quarters of the League of Nations. Jorge Jesus could hardly imagine a better start as a national selector... even if he had certainly preferred to avoid the controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo.

Al Nassr's advance, remember, was bet the holder on the duel of the inaugural day of the group phase, which culminated in a 1-0 victory over Wales. He moved to the bench of alternates, in the first triumph over Norway, by 1-2, and then left the internship, watching the distance from the way the teammates beat Denmark and Norway, by 2-4 and 2-1, respectively.

A case that ‘stealed’ much of the attention, in the team of quinas, over the last week, but that did not affect what happened within the four lines, as the results prove. In between, there were those who stood out, who proved their credentials... and who got the feeling that they might not have an easy life.

With that in view, the Sports to Minute evaluates, one by one, the provision of all 25 players summoned by Jorge Jesus for that which was the first break for international commitments of the new sports season of 2026/27.

The goal has only one name

No big surprise, Diogo Costa occupied the goal of Portugal, in these four games, giving no chance to Rui Silva and Samuel Soares. The goalkeeper of FC Porto has already been happier (for example, he felt that he should have done better on the goal of Erling Haaland, Norway), but hardly anyone will make him ‘cook’ in the near future.

Defensive quartet is found

Like the goal, the defense also remained unchanged at the start of the League of Nations group stage, with Jorge Jesus betting on the defensive security given by Reuben Days and Renato Veiga, in contrast to the offensive daring they offer John Cancel (which scored two goals) and Nuno Mendes (which gave two others to score).

The national selector’s favorite defensive quartet is more than identified, so life is complicated for Gonçalo Inacio (who didn't even come to play), Thomas Araújo, Diogo Dalot (which added up only one minute in the field) and Nuno Tavares (which was launched twice, in a physical management perspective of Nuno Mendes).

Two-time European champion undone

The midfield seems to be the sector that offers Jorge Jesus the most doubts. Still, there's a certainty. That is, the pair formed by John Neves and Chicken, on which the success of Paris Saint-Germain took place in the last two editions of the Champions League (such as the plans of the predecessor, Roberto Martínez), is to undo.

The coach set up a midfield two, making the constituents depend on the opponent's karate. Vita made three games and João Neves only one, having John Palhinha was the ‘antidote’ found to stop the physical power of Norway, and Reuben Neves the chosen to give another quality with ball, against Wales and Denmark.

End of ‘was Bernardo Silva’?

Jorge Jesus remained faithful to his ideas in various planes, including the system of asymmetric wings in the attack. Bruno Fernandes, even physically weakened, was elected to balance the left, while the right wavered between Francisco Conceição and Pedro Neto, who had the responsibility to give another ‘vertigo’.

Bernardo Silva, on the other hand, went from unquestionable holder the solution to the final minutes, and the situation will hardly be reversed, taking into account the requirements of the current tactical system. In fact, Real Madrid's creative played even less than Francisco Trincão, something that, until recently, would be unthinkable.

Closed attack... without Cristiano Ronaldo

Lose a player of the quality of Cristiano Ronaldo (by his own will, let's say) is never positive, but the truth is that it was with his ‘goodbye’ to the team of quinas that Jorge Jesus met the duo that most seems to favor football that idealizes, composed of John Felix (which added three goals) and Gonçalo Ramos (which recorded the other three and one assistance).

Rafael Leão wasted another opportunity to silence critics and demonstrate that it can continue to be an option at the highest level, while Fábio Silva he did not even have the opportunity to put into practice the qualities recognized to him by the national selector himself when the list of summoned persons was published.