Comments and predictions for Denmark vs Portugal: Ronaldo shines

Denmark will host Portugal at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on Thursday evening in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final.

The winner of this tie will face either Italy or Germany in the semi-finals in June.

Latest Denmark vs Portugal team information

Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Mads Roerslev have withdrawn from the squad through injury, while Kasper Dolberg, Alexander Bah and Matt O'Riley are also unavailable.

Coach Riemer is likely to continue with the 4-3-3 formation that he used in his first two matches as head coach. The back four could include Rasmus Kristensen, Joachim Andersen, Jannik Vestergaard and either Joakim Maehle or Patrick Dorgu.

In midfield, Christian Eriksen could mark his 141st appearance for his country, partnering Christian Norgaard and Morten Hjulmand.

Up front, in-form striker Mika Biereth - who has scored 11 goals in 12 games for Monaco since January - could be given his debut unless Rasmus Hojlund is given the nod to start at centre-forward.

On the Portuguese side, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to make his 218th international appearance at the age of 40, and the Al-Nassr star could line up alongside Pedro Neto and Rafael Leao up front.

However, 17-year-old talent Geovany Quenda - who is believed to have reached an agreement to join Chelsea from Sporting Lisbon - is also another option for coach Martinez and could make his debut for the team in this match.

In midfield, Bruno Fernandes is certain to return to the starting line-up after missing the previous international break through suspension, while Premier League players Ruben Dias and Diogo Dalot could be named in the starting line-up in defence.

Latest predicted lineup for Denmark vs Portugal

Denmark:

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

Portugal:

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

Latest football commentary on Denmark vs Portugal

After being eliminated in the round of 16 of Euro 2024 by hosts Germany, Denmark earned eight points from six matches (W2 D2 L2) to finish second in Group A4 of the Nations League in the second half of last year.

Lars Knudsen took temporary charge of Denmark for the first four group games after Kasper Hjulmand resigned, before Brian Riemer took over permanently in October. However, the 46-year-old is still looking for his first win as head coach of the national team.

Riemer made his debut in a 2-1 home defeat to European champions Spain, before being held to a goalless draw by Serbia in their final group game – a result that was enough to keep Denmark in second place in Group A4.

This is the first time Denmark have made it to the knockout stages of the Nations League, but progressing to the semi-finals will not be easy, as they have won just three of their 16 meetings with Portugal in all competitions (D2 L11).

However, the red-and-whites can take confidence from their impressive home record, having lost just one of their last 15 internationals at home (W11 D2) – the only defeat coming against Spain in November.

Portugal, on the other hand, were beaten by France on penalties in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, but responded strongly with four wins and two draws in six Nations League matches late last year, thereby topping Group A1 with a six-point gap over second-placed Croatia.

Roberto Martinez's side closed out 2024 with a bizarre 5-1 win over Poland – a game that was scoreless until the 59th minute – before drawing 1-1 with Croatia in their final group game in November.

Currently ranked sixth in the world by FIFA, 15 places above Denmark (21), Portugal are aiming to become the first team to win two Nations League titles, after being crowned champions in the inaugural 2018-19 season.

The Selecao are confident they can beat Denmark to move closer to glory, having won four of their last five meetings with the opposition, including two consecutive 1-0 wins in Euro 2016 qualifying.

Portugal's away form over the past 12 months has been inconsistent, however, winning just two of their last six games (D2 L2) and failing to score in three of those games.

Latest score prediction for Denmark vs Portugal

Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the results of the match.Denmark vs Portugalas follows:

• Sportsmole:Denmark 0-1 Portugal

• WhoScore:Denmark 0-2 Portugal
• Our newspaper predicts:Denmark 0-1 Portugal

When and where to watch Denmark vs Portugal live?

To watch live the match Denmark vs Portugal in the Nations League taking place at 1:45 a.m. on March 21, viewers can watch onK+ Sport,K+PMor online sports channels. Wish you have fun watching football.