Lisbon, Portugal — Francisco Trincão enter the game for Portugal and scored twice, while Cristiano Ronaldo also netted a goal as Portugal beat Denmark 5-2 after extra time, sealing a 5-3 aggregate win on March 23, 2025.
Ronaldo’s performance was a mix of glory and struggle; he missed an early penalty but ultimately helped his team secure a place in the Nations League semi-finals against Germany.
After receiving a foul in the box from Denmark’s Patrick Dorgu, Ronaldo had the chance to put Portugal ahead early. However, Denmark’s goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel saved his penalty kick. Ronaldo quickly bounced back by creating opportunities, but Schmeichel was in great form, denying Ronaldo’s follow-up header.
Portugal finally broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when Danish defender Joachim Andersen accidentally headed a corner into his own net, giving Portugal the lead. But Denmark responded, and Rasmus Kristensen equalized for Denmark with a header from a corner in the 56th minute.
Ronaldo then gave Portugal the lead again with a tight-angle shot in the 72nd minute, only for Christian Eriksen to respond swiftly, putting Denmark back on aggregate in the 76th minute.
As the minutes ticked away, Trincão made impactful contributions off the bench. He scored a crucial goal in the 86th minute, leveling the aggregate score at 3-3 and pushing the game into extra time. Just minutes later, he found the net again, expertly finishing a clip in the 91st minute, leaving Denmark struggling.
Gonçalo Ramos added a fifth goal for Portugal in the closing minutes, confirming their place in the semi-finals. Despite valiant efforts from Denmark, including solid defending, they couldn’t keep pace with the relentless pressure from Portugal.
Portugal will next face Germany, who also had a dramatic quarterfinal with Italy. The match ended 3-3, but Germany advanced through penalties, securing their spot on home turf for the latter stages of the tournament in Stuttgart and Munich.
In other matches, Nations League holders Spain triumphed over the Netherlands, winning 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in their second leg. France beat Croatia 5-4 in another penalty shootout following a 2-2 aggregate scoreline.
This quarterfinal stage of the Nations League has delivered intense moments, establishing thrilling narratives for fans. The matchup between Portugal and Germany promises to be one for the history books.
