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Portugal beat Denmark 4-2 in Copenhagen on 1 October 2026, with João Cancelo, Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha and João Félix scoring. Cristiano Ronaldo was not in the squad after leaving Portugal’s training camp the day before the match; his reason for leaving has not been established in the reports.
How Portugal beat Denmark
Portugal took the lead inside 13 minutes when Cancelo finished a move involving Ramos. Denmark answered through Mikkel Damsgaard, but Ramos restored Portugal’s advantage two minutes later, with Bruno Fernandes linking up in the move. Rasmus Højlund equalized early in the second half, making it 2-2.
Vitinha put Portugal back in front with a header from a Bruno Fernandes delivery. Late in the match, substitute João Félix finished a counter-attack driven forward by Diogo Dalot to complete the 4-2 win. AFP and Cadena SER reported the same result and scorer sequence; AS listed the goals at 12, 22, 24, 52, 66 and 86 minutes.
Why Ronaldo was absent
AFP reported that Ronaldo left the training camp on Wednesday, 30 September, after coach Jorge Jesus had said he would not start against Denmark. Ronaldo said he would explain his reasons later. In a statement quoted by AFP, he said: “Following the national team coach’s press conference, and after having a conversation with the Portuguese Football Federation president, I decided to leave the national team’s training camp.” He added: “In due course, I will tell the truth to all the Portuguese people about my reasons for leaving the national team, to which I have always been dedicated.”
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Those remarks do not disclose his motive, so the reason for his departure remains unresolved in the cited coverage. Before the match, Jesus said he wanted the side “to focus on the match”. Afterward, he said there would be time to discuss the situation. (AFP)
Portugal’s attack brought goals, but its high line carried risk
Portugal’s four goals came from four different scorers, with Ramos starting in Ronaldo’s absence and Félix scoring after coming on as a substitute. The reported build-up also involved contributions from Cancelo, Bruno Fernandes and Dalot, giving Portugal several routes to goal in this match.
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- SWEAT-WICKING COMFORT: dryCELL technology helps keep you dry and comfortable from warm-up to the final whistle.
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- STREAMLINED FINISH: Flat knit collar and cuffs give a clean look that plays well on and off the field.
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AS’s tactical reading was that Jesus used an advanced defensive line to support an all-pitch press. That approach helped Portugal attack aggressively, but it also left space behind the defense. Denmark exploited that space for both equalizers: Damsgaard’s pass sent Højlund in behind for the second. This is a reading of the match, not evidence that Portugal’s longer-term attacking or defensive setup is settled. (AS)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the result meant in the group
AS’s post-match table showed Portugal on nine points after three matches and Denmark on three. Those figures describe the group standings reported after this fixture, not a current standings guarantee. (AS)
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- SWEAT-WICKING COMFORT: dryCELL technology helps keep you dry and comfortable from warm-up to the final whistle.
- AUTHENTIC DETAILS: Team crest at the left chest and PUMA Cat logo at the right chest deliver official on-field energy.
- STREAMLINED FINISH: Flat knit collar and cuffs give a clean look that plays well on and off the field.
- FOREVER BETTER: PUMA is always pushing to be better than we were yesterday. FOREVER BETTER is our commitment to reduce our environmental impact and work together towards a sustainable future. The garment is made with at least 95% recycled materials.
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