Portugal reach Nations League quarter-finals without Ronaldo

Portugal became the first team to reach the Nations League quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Norway on Sunday, showing they could win without Cristiano Ronaldo days after their captain walked out of the camp.

Goncalo Ramos scored the winner in the 86th minute in Porto, after Joao Cancelo’s powerful strike had cancelled out Kristoffer Ajer’s stunning long-range opener for Norway, World Cup quarter-finalists, Dawn reported, citing AFP.

The door is open for Ronaldo

Ronaldo, 41, left the squad on Wednesday after coach Jorge Jesus said he would be on the bench. After the win, Jesus said the captain could come back, but it was up to him.

“If he wants to, he’ll return to the national team… we can talk before the next call-up, but Cris is the one who’s going to decide,” Jesus said.

Ramos, the AC Milan striker, has now scored the winning goal in both of Portugal’s matches against Norway in this campaign, after also striking in the 2-1 win in Oslo.

Klopp’s Germany held

Jurgen Klopp’s Germany were held 0-0 by a resolute Greece in Thessaloniki. Jonathan Burkardt had the ball in the net in the first half, but his goal was ruled out. Klopp’s record as Germany coach now reads one win, one draw and one defeat.

Other results

• Netherlands 2-1 Serbia: substitute Joshua Zirkzee tapped in the winner from Tijjani Reijnders’ cross to put the Dutch top of their group, on Virgil van Dijk’s 100th international appearance. New coach Xavi Hernandez is unbeaten in four games
• Wales 0-1 Denmark: Rasmus Hojlund scored a 75th-minute penalty in Cardiff after goalkeeper Danny Ward, who had made a string of saves, fouled Gustav Isaksen

Armbands and no handshakes

Israel drew 1-1 with Ireland in a tense match played in the Serbian town of Backa Topola, after the Football Association of Ireland refused to host Israel on Irish soil for security reasons following calls for a boycott.

Irish players had worn black armbands in their previous match to protest the war in Gaza. This time, Israel’s players wore black armbands marked “7.10” for the victims of the October 7, 2023 attack. As in the first meeting, which Ireland won 3-0, the Irish players bowed their heads during the Israeli anthem and the teams did not shake hands.

Troy Parrott put Ireland ahead from the penalty spot in the 39th minute after Dor Peretz fouled Jimmy Dunne. Peretz then equalised two minutes after half-time, turning in a shot that deflected off Ireland defender Liam Scales. Ireland are now third in their group behind Austria and Kosovo, and Israel are bottom with two points.

Why it matters

For Portugal, the win answers the question of life after Ronaldo, at least for now, and leaves the next move to their greatest player. Elsewhere, the Ireland-Israel match showed how the war in Gaza continues to reach into the world’s most popular sport. Read our report on Ronaldo’s walkout.

This article draws on reporting by Dawn and AFP.