UEFA Nations League: Ronaldo-less Portugal reach quarterfinals, Germany held by Greece
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.
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 played out the final minutes with 10 men after Francisco Conceicao was dismissed for two yellow cards in the space of a few seconds for dissent after he appealed for a penalty unsuccessfully.
Portugal are now guaranteed to finish in the top two spots in the group with two matches to spare, thus becoming the first team to reach the last eight in March 2027.
Norway took the lead in Porto against the run of play with a stunning effort from Brentford defender Ajer after 36 minutes.
The Norwegian met a bouncing ball on the edge of the box perfectly to bend it into the top corner.
However two minutes later Barcelona defender Cancelo scored a similarly superb goal, rifling home from around 20 yards.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland fired across the face of goal after an hour and was replaced by Jorgen Strand Larsen a few minutes later.
Nations League holders and two-time record champions Portugal nosed in front when AC Milan striker Ramos, starting in place of Ronaldo, tucked home from close range.
Ramos was teed up by Joao Felix, who reached Vitinha's lofted pass and put it on a plate for the forward.
Ramos scored for a third consecutive game, and helped Portugal seal back-to-back wins since 41-year-old forward Ronaldo left the squad.
Conceicao's foolish dismissal left Jesus's team in a tough spot for the final few minutes. The Juventus winger was about to be replaced by Pedro Neto but his complaints led to a red card before the substitution could happen.
Portugal held on to triumph for the fourth time in four games in the group, completing a successful first international window for 72-year-old coach Jesus, despite the Ronaldo controversy.
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.
"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.
Jurgen Klopp's Germany failed to break down a resolute Greek side in a goalless stalemate in Thessaloniki.
Germany had the ball in the net through Eintracht Frankfurt forward Jonathan Burkardt in the first half but his effort was disallowed.
Klopp's record as new German boss now reads: lost one, won one, drawn one.
The Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 thanks to Joshua Zirkzee's winner to move top of their Nations League group.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The Manchester United forward was a second-half substitute in Eindhoven and applied the decisive touch with a tap-in from Tijjani Reijnders' cross.
The match also marked Virgil van Dijk's 100th international appearance.
New Netherlands coach Xavi is unbeaten after four games, with two wins and two draws.
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.
The simple black armbands worn by the Israelis were inscribed with the numbers "7.10" to mark the date of the attack.
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 Football Association of Ireland (FAI) had refused to host Israel on Irish soil for security reasons, following boycott calls.
On Sunday, Troy Parrott put Ireland ahead from the penalty spot after 39 minutes after Dor Peretz fouled Jimmy Dunne.
But Peretz stabbed in an equaliser two minutes after half-time, sending in from close range after a shot deflected off Ireland defender Liam Scales and into his path.
The result complicates Ireland's qualification task as they now lie third in Group 3 of League B behind Austria and Kosovo. Israel are bottom with two points.
Wales lost again, as Rasmus Hojlund slotted in a 75th minute penalty to earn Denmark a 1-0 win in Cardiff.
Welsh goalkeeper Danny Ward had kept the Danes at bay with a string of saves but he conceded the penalty when he fouled Denmark midfielder Gustav Isaksen.
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