Jorge Jesus Names 25-Man Portugal Squad as Nations League Defence Begins
Portugal’s new head coach Jorge Jesus has unveiled his first senior squad since taking over from Roberto Martínez in July, setting the tone for the nation’s defence of its Nations League title. The 72-year-old tactician convened his 25-player group on Monday afternoon at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras.
The squad includes captain Cristiano Ronaldo, marking a symbolic continuity at the top of the team, alongside key new faces: Benfica goalkeeper Samuel Soares, Lazio defender Nuno Tavares, Benfica midfielder João Palhinha, and Borussia Dortmund forward Fábio Silva.
Portugal begins its campaign on Thursday, 24 September, hosting Wales at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon. The side then travels to Norway on 27 September, faces Denmark in Copenhagen on 1 October, and closes the first group stage with a return fixture against Norway at the Estádio do Dragão on 4 October. Portugal won the competition in 2019 and again in 2025, defeating Spain 5–3 on penalties in the most recent final.
Klopp Names 44-Player Germany Squad as International Break Begins
Meanwhile, Germany’s new manager Jurgen Klopp has named an unprecedented 44-player grouping for the Nations League, splitting his squad into two groups for the opening fixtures. The former Liverpool manager, who took over after Germany’s early World Cup exit, will deploy different lineups for each pair of matches.
The first squad faces the Netherlands on 24 September at the Johan Cruyff Arena and Greece on 27 September at the WWK Arena. A second group travels to Serbia on 1 October and plays Greece again on 4 October. The strategy gives Klopp the opportunity to assess a wide array of talent ahead of the Euro 2028 cycle.
Standout inclusions include Felix Keidel, the 23-year-old midfielder from newly-promoted SV 07 Elversberg — a surprise selection given only three Bundesliga appearances in 2026–27 and no prior youth international experience. Klopp cited his versatility across midfield roles as decisive.
Sixteen players in the broader squad have never earned a senior cap, underlining Klopp’s clear direction toward rebuilding. Several familiar names from the Julian Nagelsmann era are absent, including Leroy Sané (Galatasaray), Oliver Baumann, Leon Goretzka, Pascal Gross, Angelo Stiller, Assan Ouedraogo, Maximilian Beier, and Deniz Undav. Manuel Neuer appears to have retired from international duty again, with Marc-André ter Stegen now leading the goalkeeping unit.
Cape Verde and Bologna Make Changes
Cape Verde’s new coach Humberto Bettencourt named a 26-player squad for Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Mali on 25 September and Rwanda on 29 September. The roster largely mirrors the group that reached the last-16 at the 2026 World Cup, with only two changes: Ianique Tavares 'Stopira' (Torreense) and Yannick Semedo (Al-Jabalain) drop out, replaced by Ayoni Santos (PSV Eindhoven) and José Tavares 'Djé' (Santa Clara). Telmo Arcanjo of Vitória de Guimarães retains his place.
In Italy, Bologna has dismissed manager Domenico Tedesco after a disastrous start, leaving the club 16th in Serie A with just one point from four matches. Raffaele Palladino has been appointed as his successor on a contract until 2029. Palladino’s first training session is set for Monday.
Sporting Lose Debast for Braga Trip
Sporting CP central defender Zeno Debast will miss the crucial away match against Sporting de Braga on 9 October after receiving a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Gabriel Rukavina during Saturday’s match at Alvalade. The Belgian international’s absence presents a defensive challenge for manager Rúben Amorim as the team seeks to maintain momentum in the Primeira Liga.
