The Portuguese showed they did not need Cristiano Ronaldo, who walked out of the camp on Wednesday when coach Jorge Jesus relegated him to the bench. Goncalo Ramos secured victory in the 86th minute after Joao Cancelo’s powerful finish had levelled Kristoffer Ajer’s stunning opener from outside the penalty area for World Cup quarter-finalists Norway. Portugal became the first team to reach the quarter-finals of the Nations League when they beat Norway 2-1 on Sunday, but Jurgen Klopp’s Germany were frustrated by Greece.
Israel are bottom with two points. After the game, Jesus said he was prepared to allow 41-year-old Ronaldo to return to the national team — but that it would have to be the player’s decision. Israel’s players wore black armbands in their 1-1 draw against Ireland to commemorate the victims of Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, after Irish players had worn them in the previous match in Hungary to protest the war in Gaza. Just as in last week’s first match which Ireland won 3-0, the Irish players again bowed their heads during the Israeli anthem and the teams refused to shake hands before the match in the small Serbian town of Backa Topola. The result complicates Ireland’s qualification task as they now lie third in Group 3 of League B behind Austria and Kosovo.
“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 told reporters.
