Portugal have begun with four wins in four under Jorge Jesus, and the attack is doing most of the work. They have scored nine Nations League goals, averaged 18.5 shots per game and still only averaged 51% possession, which is a tidy reminder that this team can hurt opponents without living on the ball.
Portugal's attacking output
The run includes a 4-2 win over Denmark and a 2-1 win over Norway, with Jesus already sounding pleased and dissatisfied in the same breath. Speaking to A Bola, he said: "The win in Denmark filled me with pride as a coach, but I can also say that when the game ended, I was very happy, but I could have been happier."
The best part of the early spell is that the goals are not coming from one place. João Félix has three goals and one assist, while Gonçalo Ramos has three goals and one assist too. Bruno Fernandes supplied two assists against Denmark, and Cristiano Ronaldo remains part of the conversation even as Jesus has given the side a clearer attacking shape.
The settled core and the selection choices
Portugal's back line has been stable throughout the four-game run. Diogo Costa, João Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga and Nuno Mendes started all four matches, and Portugal have conceded four goals across that stretch.
There is also a sign that Jesus trusts some parts of the squad more than others. João Neves did not come off the bench against Norway in Porto after only one start in Oslo and 65 minutes across three matches. Bernardo Silva has also been used far less than the more established attacking pairings, though that is more a reflection of selection than a settled verdict on his place.
Jesus has Portugal creating plenty and defending from a fixed base. The next checkpoint comes when this four-match run is measured against stronger opponents, but the immediate picture is clear enough: four wins, nine goals and a manager who is already asking for more on top of it.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
