Portugal overcame Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence to beat Denmark 4-2 away in the Nations League, while Jurgen Klopp recorded his first victory as Germany manager with a 2-0 win over Serbia.
Goncalo Ramos scored and provided an assist as Portugal prevailed in a dramatic match overshadowed by Ronaldo’s departure from the squad. Jorge Jesus is expected to explain the reasons for the forward’s exit after the final match of this international break.
Rafael Leao wore Portugal’s number seven shirt against Denmark, with UEFA rules requiring squad numbers to be between 1 and 23. Ronaldo was not included in the squad.
Klopp’s Germany side secured its first win under the former Liverpool manager by beating Serbia 2-0, with Florian Wirtz and Paul Bischof scoring.
Argentina began the post-Lionel Messi era with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Bolivia at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes. Lionel Scaloni said emerging players such as Leonel Flores and Franco Mastantuono will need to be carefully developed if the national side is to remain successful without Messi.
The Netherlands came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Greece after Tijjani Reijnders scored an 89th-minute equaliser in a closely contested match.
Other football stories
UEFA said it had received documents from Real Madrid relating to the NEGREIRA CASE.
Arsenal’s former manager Arsene Wenger was also the subject of a review of players he nearly signed. Wenger won three Premier League titles, one unbeaten season and seven FA Cups during his time at the club, prompting discussion over how much greater his achievements might have been had some of those deals been completed.
There was also analysis of how 13 of the world’s most powerful countries had responded to Manchester City’s bombshell verdict. The club’s charges and guilty verdict have prompted reaction from across the football world.
Danny Mills said Enzo Maresca could help Manchester City develop a “siege mentality” after the verdict. Jurgen Klopp, however, said he was not expecting to be awarded more titles retrospectively as a result of the ruling.
Former England defender Gary Neville said the verdict had “dragged the Premier League through the mud” and damaged the competition’s image around the world.
At Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres said he was “extremely happy” at the club despite rumours over his future and wanted to compete for his place under Mikel Arteta.
Spain winger Victor Munoz described it as “a privilege” to learn from Lamine Yamal while competing with him for the same position in Luis De la Fuente’s team.
Morgan Gibbs-White said he was already targeting an England place at Euro 2028 after returning to the squad for the Nations League. Thomas Tuchel added that England were unlikely to produce another striker at Harry Kane’s level, describing Kane as a “one-off”.
Fixtures on 2026/10/02
UEFA Nations League
France v Italy – 18:45 UTC
Belgium v Turkey – 18:45 UTC
