Portugal-Denmark Past and future hand in hand in post-CR7

Portugal faces, on Saturday night, Denmark, in play of the 5th day of the League of Nations played in Braga that has a special condiment: it will be the first time that the team of quinas will be in action after confirming the withdrawal of Cristiano Ronaldo from the selection context. 

As in Sports to Minute confirmed, there will be at least two tributes to the “eternal captain”. One of them at the time of the entry of the players on the lawn, with all of them wearing the shirt 7 symbolically and the other when the seventh minute of the match passes. 

The past and future of the national team will thus be holding hands at least in the first minutes of this match, and a new cycle will be opened in the team of quinas. 

Speaking of the past, it is worth remembering that Denmark knows what it is to lose in Braga against Portugal. Just over a decade ago, a solo goal by João Moutinho ensured the Portuguese presence Euro2016, which would be won by Portugal, thanks to an Éder goal in extending the final against France.

Since then much has changed, starting with Ronaldo's absence from the Portuguese team. More recently, and already after CR7 had abandoned the selection stage, Portugal went to Copenhagen to beat Denmark by 4-2. In addition, the selection commanded by Jorge Jesus has already ensured the passage to the final quarters of the Nations, requiring only one more point to confirm the first place of Group A4. 

The Slovenian referee Rade Obrenovic was appointed by UEFA to call the meeting between Portugal and Denmark, which is scheduled for 7:45 this Saturday, and can follow the main incidences, live, in the Sports to Minute. 

Selectors in direct speech

Jorge Jesus

Ready to be the center of attention when things don't go well? “Coach is always one of the focus centers. In a selection like Portugal, with high quality players, if you don't achieve the goals... Coming to a World Cup final. If you win, it's different, but you have to get there. Winning a European Championship Portugal has already done so. Portugal always plays to triumph like me in the last years of my career. I trained teams always to win. If you do not win titles, you are the focus of the negative, of what is the responsibility of the coach.”

How do you imagine the game? Will you give the younger ones minutes? “ The focus of this game with Denmark is the same as the first in Alvalade with Wales. Win the games. We quickly defined the possibility of being the first ranked, which is the case of tomorrow's game. We have won and this great goal is set. There are no two games alike. Denmark is a team that surprised us with moments of great quality there. We defend the ball very well because they are very strong players physically. The game will be different. Portugal's favoritism is normal. If Portugal is first, Denmark will compete with Norway for the clearance of the 2nd grade, I think. Believing we're going first. It will be a difficult game, because Denmark has players known to the great teams of Europe.”

Whose initiative was the tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo? “Of course you didn’t leave the technical team. This will always be decisions by FPF, more specifically linked to the football area and its president. That's a brilliant idea. No one can forget the 23 years Cris played in the team, what he did and what he was in the world as a player in other clubs. I haven't been with Cris for a week. I spent a year working with him and I know how important it is to new players from all over the world. It is a brilliant idea to continue not to forget that it is a legend of Portuguese football.”

Brian Riemer

Adversary: “We know where the weaknesses are, but also the strengths. It's gonna be a matter of not letting them shine too bright and not letting them take advantage. We did our homework.”

Power of Portugal: “We know that the new coach [Jorge Jesus] only has four games. We hope they get to all the gas, they have a fantastic team and I see no reason why they shouldn't do what they did at Parken. It's two teams that like to push and play with the ball, which for viewers is too good to see. Let us hope to take advantage of the key moments of the game.”

Portuguese Favoritism: “It is no secret that we will play against a better opponent than ourselves and will depend a lot on how we present ourselves. If we can do our best and show the passion we feel for the game we have a chance, but we cannot give a team like Portugal great opportunities, because they will punish us. We will use all our tools, but it will be a very hard task.”

Last results

Portugal: VVVV

Denmark: DVDV

Last elevens

Portugal: Diogo Costa, João Cancelo, Renato Veiga, Reuben Dias, Nuno Mendes, João Palhinha, Francisco Conceição, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos

Denmark: Mads Hermansen, Rasmus Kristensen, Joachim Andersen, Oliver Provstgaard, Joakim Maehle, Morten Hjulland, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Victor Froholdt, Mohammed Daramy, Gustav Isaksen, Rasmus Højlund

Absent

Portugal: João Cancelo (suspended)

Denmark: Patrick Dorgu (injury)