Nations League | Quarter-Finals | 1st Leg

Mar 20, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Parken

Denmark vs Portugal

Match preview

After being knocked out of Euro 2024 by hosts Germany in the last 16 last summer, Denmark took eight points from six games (W2 D2 L2) to finish second in Nations League Group 4 in the second half of last year.

Lars Knudsen took charge of Denmark's first four group games following the resignation of Kasper Hjulmand before new head coach Brian Riemer took over in October last year, but the 46-year-old is still searching for his first win in charge of the national team.

Indeed, Riemer's first match in charge saw the Danes lose 2-1 at home to European champions Spain, before the Red and Whites were held to a goalless draw by Serbia in their final group game, a result that was enough to see them finish second in Group 4 of League A.

Denmark will be playing in the knockout stages of the Nations League for the first time, but securing a place in the last four could prove tricky as they have only won three of their 16 meetings with Portugal in all competitions (D2 L11).

However, the Red and Whites can take heart from the fact that they have lost just one of their last 15 home internationals (W11 D2), the aforementioned defeat to Spain in mid-November.

Portugal were beaten on penalties by France in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 last summer, but they responded well by winning four and drawing two of their six Nations League matches at the end of last year to finish top of Group A, six points clear of nearest challengers Croatia.

Roberto Martinez's men ended 2024 with a bizarre 5-1 home win over Poland - a game that was goalless until the 59th minute - before holding Croatia to a 1-1 draw in their final game in mid-November.

Ranked sixth in the world by FIFA, 15 places ahead of Denmark (21st), Portugal are now bidding to become the first country to win the Nations League twice, having already triumphed in the inaugural tournament in 2018-19.

A Selecao will be eager to move one step closer to Nations League glory against Denmark, having won four of their last five meetings with the Red and Whites, including the last two 1-0 victories in Euro 2016 qualifying.

However, Portugal's away form has been patchy over the past 12 months, with just two wins from their last six away matches (D2 L2), and they have failed to score in three of those games.

Recent Performance

Denmark Nations League form:WWLDLD

Portugal Nations League form:WWWDWD

Team News

Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Mads Roerslev have both been ruled out through injury, while Kasper Dolberg, Alexander Bah and Matt O'Riley are also unavailable.

Riemer is likely to stick with the 4-3-3 formation he used in his first two games in charge, with Rasmus Kristensen, Joachim Andersen, Jannik Vestergaard and either Joakim Maehle or Patrick Dorgu potentially lining up in a back four.

Christian Eriksen could make his 141st international appearance in midfield alongside Christian Norgaard and Morten Hjulmand, while in-form Monaco striker Mika Biereth - who has netted 11 times in 12 games since joining the club in January - could make his international debut unless Rasmus Hojlund is preferred up front.

For Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to win his 218th cap at the age of 40, and the Al Nassr star could be joined in attack by Pedro Neto and Rafael Leao.

However, 17-year-old winger Geovany Quenda, who has agreed to join Chelsea from Sporting Lisbon, is another attacking option at Martinez's disposal and could make his senior international debut in some capacity on Thursday.

Bruno Fernandes is in line to start in midfield after missing the last international through suspension, while Manchester-based Premier League duo Ruben Dias and Diogo Dalot could get starts at the back.

Possible starting lineup

Denmark possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Kristensen, Andersen, Vestergaard, Maehle; Hjulmand, Norgaard, Eriksen; Skov Olsen, Biereth, Damsgaard

Portugal possible starting lineup:

Costa; Dalot, A. Silva, Dias, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves; Neto, Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo