MATCH THREAD: " Portugal v Wales " Match Thread

Updated:


Six changes for Wales after their 2-1 loss to Romania over the summer








Wales play their first of four UEFA Nations League matches during this international window on Thursday with a trip to Lisbon to play Portugal.

Kick off at Estadio Jose Alvalade is at 7.45pm UK time, and will be shown live across BBC platforms.

Portugal's quality is known, they reached the Last 16 of the World Cup before losing to eventual winners Spain. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto are in their squad.

Also in this international window, Wales will play Denmark home and away as well as a home game against Norway.

WALES SQUAD FOR UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE MATCHES

David Cornell (Leicester City)
Danny Ward (Wrexham)
Tom King (Everton)

Jay DaSilva (Coventry City)
Jayden Lienou (Leeds United)
Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur)
Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United)
Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion)
Ben Cabango (Swansea City)
Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest)
Connor Roberts (Burnley)

Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United)
Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers)
Jordan James (Wolverhampton Wanderers – on loan from Stade Rennais)
Liam Cullen (Leicester City)
Joel Colwill (Cardiff City)
Charlie Savage (Reading)
Sorba Thomas (Hull City)
David Brooks (Bournemouth)
Cameron Congreve (KVC Westerlo)
Wes Burns (Leicester City)

Joe Taylor (Huddersfield Town)
Brennan Johnson (Everton)
Kieffer Moore (Wrexham)
Lewis Koumas (Liverpool)
Mark Harris (Oxford United)
Dan James (Leeds United)
Cian Ashford (Cardiff City)

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Joe Taylor, Charlie Savage and David Cornell have replaced Nathan Broadhead, Harry Wilson and Karl Darlow for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures

The three week international Break:

WALES:

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£50 a ticket, they can do one

£50 a ticket, they can do one

Disgraceful prices. Let's see if they sell out

Harry Wilson set to miss upcoming Wales games in Nations League. Hammer blow.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke: “Wilson out with quad injury, reported problems after last game. Probably miss the Welsh games, too.”

Cristiano Ronaldo set to play against Wales after being named in Portugal’s Nations League squad.


Will it be an emotional international farewell for 41-year-old in Lisbon on Thursday?

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Bellamy has called up veteran Leicester City keeper David Cornell and Huddersfield Town forward Joe Taylor - both of whom are uncapped - as well as Reading midfielder Charlie Savage as replacements for Wilson, Darlow & Broadhead

How to follow Wales' four matches -

Bellamy's team's four matches against Portugal, Denmark and Norway will be shown live across BBC One and BBC Two Wales, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport Website and app.

You can listen to live commentary on BBC Sounds via BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.

Commentary is also available on BBC Sport Online and via BBC Radio Wales on FM/DAB & DTV.

Live text commentary will be available on the BBC Sport website and app.

How Wales' Nations League Group looks -

Two of Wales' Nations League opponents enjoyed relative World Cup success this summer.

Portugal reached the last 16 before being edged out by eventual winners Spain thanks to a late Mikel Merino strike and Norway were beaten 2-1 by England in the quarter-finals courtesy of a Jude Bellingham brace.

Both sides also boast some of world football's biggest names. Erling Haaland continues to spearhead Norway's attack, having scored 62 goals in 54 international appearances.

Portugal, meanwhile, have Ronaldo after his former Al-Ittihad head coach Jorge Jesus selected the 41-year-old in his squad.

Ronaldo could face Wales for the first time since his header put Portugal on their way to a 2-0 win in the Euros semi-final in 2016.

Denmark will also provide a stern test. Although they failed to qualify for the World Cup, the Danes are ranked 21st in the world and possess quality throughout their squad.

This includes Napoli striker Rasmus Hojlund, Porto midfielder Victor Froholdt and Brentford playmaker Mikkel Damsgaard.

Denmark have won each of their last three encounters with the Dragons, most recently in the last 16 of Euro 2020.

Norway are a less familiar opponent. Wales have not faced them since 2011, when goals from Gareth Bale, Sam Vokes and current manager Craig Bellamy helped secure a 4-1 victory.

Team news -

Wales' initial squad already contained gaps particularly in defence with Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor unavailable for selection.

Wales will also now be without talisman Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead and number one goalkeeper Karl Darlow through injury.

The absences have paved way for opportunities. Cardiff City's Cian Ashford, Huddersfield Town forward Joe Taylor and veteran Leicester City keeper David Cornell have earned their first call-ups.

Reading midfielder Charlie Savage, Oxford United's Mark Harris and Leicester duo Wes Burns and Liam Cullen also return to the squad. Burns could make his first international appearance since 2024.

Whats the odds of losing them all?

Whats the odds of losing them all?

We might get lucky & draw one.

Cristiano Ronaldo considered retiring after the World Cup but says he opted to extend his glittering career as he believes he can help Portugal to further success - and reach a personal milestone of 1,000 career goals.

The 41-year-old confirmed in the summer that the 2026 World Cup would be his last, although his long-term future remained uncertain.

However, he has been included in Jorge Jesus' 25-man squad for Portugal's Nations League campaign, which begins against Wales in Lisbon on Thursday night.

In the lead-up to the contest with Craig Bellamy's side, the Al-Nassr forward also targeted the 21 goals needed to reach that magical 1,000 mark.

Asked if he thought about retiring from international duty after the World Cup, Ronaldo responded: "Yes, I did.

"Of course, I'm always thinking on my decisions, my future, the present also. I'm a thinker, you have to think."

The former Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus player said: "I had a conversation with our president, with our coach. I still believe that I'm able to help the national team to reach what they want.

"I think I can give to the national team my support, not only through the goals, but also outside of football."

Ronaldo is a two-time Nations League winner with Portugal, and he said adding a third title was also an aim alongside his personal ambitions.

"Both aims are important," he said.

"One thousand goals, yes, and the national team. Winning the Nations League, the competition starts tomorrow [Thursday], it's a new age."

Having emphatically declared his commitment to Wales following interest from Burnley in the summer, it's now back to the serious business for Craig Bellamy.

The head coach will lead his troops against a star-studded Portugal side at Estadio Jose Alvalade in what will be his first match since the Clarets saga.

So can the 48-year-old draw a line under the noise in the Lisbon sunshine?

That may be the aim from the perspective of the Red Wall, although for the boss himself, the focus remains firmly on delivering.

"The Nations League is amazing. I love it," he said.

"We got promoted, so we've earned the right to be here because that's how it works.

"If we finish third, we have a very good chance of going as the top 12 seeds into the Euro qualifiers, so that's a huge carrot for us."

Cristiano Ronaldo just 21 short 1,000 career goals ahead of Portugal v Wales

Craig Bellamy: “Seriously. Who gets a thousand goals? We’re not counting youth football or anything. It’s just silly and I hope he gets it. But I hope he gets nothing against us.”

Match odds:


Portugal - 1/6
Wales - 14/1
Draw - 6/1

Ashford not in the squad tonight yet league 1 Cullen and harris are , Bellamy is a hypocrite

Match odds:


Portugal - 1/6
Wales - 14/1
Draw - 6/1

Wow

Ashford not in the squad tonight yet league 1 Cullen and harris are , Bellamy is a hypocrite

100%

Joel Colwill on the bench

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Dreadful team selection by Craig Bellend !..... why does he always pick his love child Brennan Johnson, who has proved wherever he goes he ain't up to scratch and never gives 100%. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ! No Sorba Thomas or Mepham either

Portugal team:


Diogo Costa

Joao Cancelo
Ruben Dias
Renato Veiga
Nuno Mendes

Ruben Neves
Vitinha
Bruno Fernandes

Pedro Neto
Joao Felix
Cristiano Ronaldo

Six changes for Wales after their 2-1 loss to Romania over the summer

I can see a 4-0 thumping sadly.

Thankfully the sports channel (Fox sports) that carries these matches here has decided that the game they'll be showing is anything but the Wales game, as is the norm for some reason, no matter who we play.

Thankfully the sports channel (Fox sports) that carries these matches here has decided that the game they'll be showing is anything but the Wales game, as is the norm for some reason, no matter who we play.

It’s on BBC ONE (Wales) so not an issue

I can see a 4-0 thumping sadly.

At least it would take us closer to Bellamy going.

Not sure why it’s controversial, but I quite like the Wales kit tonight!

Brenda johnsons why he gets picked never done anything in a welsh shirt