Fernandes reflects on Portugal's embarrassing defeat to Denmark

Portugal suffered a nightmare evening in Braga on Saturday, losing heavily in their first international outing since Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football.

The result was a major setback for Portugal, who had already secured qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals after winning their opening four Group A4 fixtures. However, the manner of the defeat has raised questions about the team's performance and their ability to cope without their legendary former captain.

Fernandes, who featured in the disappointing defeat, refused to dismiss the result as a night simply to forget, insisting the team must take lessons from their mistakes.

"There are no nights to forget; it was a night of learning, of seeing the mistakes we made," the Manchester United midfielder said.

"Denmark were also very clinical – they scored from the chances they had and it was a match where things ultimately went wrong for us."

His comments reflected the frustration within the Portuguese camp after a performance in which Denmark appeared to have an answer to everything the hosts attempted.

While Portugal struggled to impose themselves on the contest, Denmark demonstrated impressive organisation, intensity and attacking efficiency to secure a convincing victory.

For Hjulmand, however, the performance was a source of considerable satisfaction, with the Danish midfielder highlighting the contribution of the entire team rather than focusing solely on the individual brilliance of their goalscorers.

"Every single Denmark player put in their best performance I've seen in a long time. Even the substitutes, which made for a fantastic overall display," Hjulmand said.

"We scored some great goals and we deserved to win."

Denmark's victory was built on a dominant collective display, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg opening the scoring from the penalty spot shortly before half-time.

Rasmus Hojlund then took centre stage after the break, scoring twice in spectacular fashion to leave Portugal facing an uphill battle. Joachim Andersen added a fourth before Bernardo Silva scored a late consolation goal.

The result leaves Denmark second in Group A4 with nine points from five matches, three behind Portugal. A draw against Norway in their final fixture on Tuesday would be enough to secure their place in the quarter-finals.

Portugal, meanwhile, will be eager to respond after a defeat that has inevitably intensified scrutiny of the team following Ronaldo's departure.

The pre-match tribute to the former captain had provided an emotional backdrop to the occasion, with players and mascots wearing shirts bearing his name and number seven. Supporters also displayed a huge banner reading "Thank you captain" as the teams entered the pitch.

Ronaldo's absence was therefore particularly significant, although Fernandes' reaction suggested Portugal must look beyond the loss of their record-breaking former captain and take responsibility for the shortcomings exposed by Denmark.

For Hjulmand and his teammates, the evening represented a statement victory and a significant step towards the Nations League quarter-finals.

For Portugal, it was a sobering reminder that a new chapter without Ronaldo will require more than a change in personnel. It will demand a collective response, starting with the lessons Fernandes believes must be taken from Saturday's heavy defeat.