"We've got a puncher's chance" was Jordan James's message before Wales face Portugal in Lisbon. The midfielder is leaning into the underdog label rather than trying to soften it, with Wales also missing Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor, Karl Darlow, Nathan Broadhead and Harry Wilson.

Wales are not trying to talk the task down

James did not pretend Portugal's level is anything else. "Obviously they're the best players in the world at the end of the day, you can't really sugarcoat it," he said to bbc.co.uk.

He also stressed that Wales are used to this role. "I think we're always underdogs. We're used to it, so hopefully we can use that to benefit ourselves," James said. Wales won their League B group in 2024 to return to the top tier of the Nations League, so this is not a side arriving in Lisbon short on belief, even if the squad is stretched.

Portugal's quality is the obvious problem

The scale of the assignment is obvious from the names Portugal can call on. Their squad includes Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Cristiano Ronaldo and the 41-year-old captain.

James summed up that level with a simple point. "They've got Champions League winners, they've got these kinds of things," he said, before adding that Portugal's stars have an edge in big moments.

He also backed Wales to make the game uncomfortable. "You can't count us out. We've got a puncher's chance at the end of the day and we're going there to sort of cause an upset," James said. Portugal's most recent game was a 1-0 defeat by Spain in the round of 16 at this summer's World Cup, while their wider recent run has been patchier than the squad on paper suggests, with one win, two draws and two defeats in their last five matches.

James's own confidence is rooted in results Wales have already produced against elite opposition. He pointed back to the win over Croatia in October 2023, when Wales beat a midfield three of Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic.

He was 19 at the time and has kept Kovacic's shirt from that game in his room. Portugal will not be short of talent, but James has made it clear that Wales are not going to Lisbon to act impressed.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →