Portugal’s first squad since Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement

Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has announced his squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales. It is his first selection since Cristiano Ronaldo officially retired from international football.

Along with CR7, Francisco Conceição is also missing, as he serves a three-match UEFA suspension for his red card against Norway. PSG left-back Nuno Mendes is out injured, while Gonçalo Inácio was left out by the coach’s decision.

Jesus has expanded the group to 28 players, three more than in the previous squad. With Ronaldo, Conceição, Mendes and Inácio absent, seven new names come in: Alberto Costa, António Silva, Mateus Fernandes, Carlos Forbs, Geovany Quenda, Rodrigo Mora and Gustavo Varela. Alberto Costa and Gustavo Varela are first-time call-ups. Mora and Quenda have yet to play an official match for the senior team, although they took part in training camps under Roberto Martínez.

With a perfect record of four wins from four games, Portugal have already secured a place in the Nations League quarter-finals. They need just one point to guarantee first place in the group. Even a one-goal defeat against Denmark would keep Portugal ahead on head-to-head and seal top spot before the final game against Wales.