Haaland starts as Wales meet Norway and Portugal move on without Ronaldo

Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard both started for Norway against Wales as three Nations League ties kicked off at 7.45pm BST on 1 October.

Portugal visited Denmark without Cristiano Ronaldo. Germany hosted Serbia with two debutants and a new captain.

The evening was part of matchday three in the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League, Europe's biennial competition where national teams play in ranked groups. UEFA listed Wales against Norway and Denmark against Portugal in League A Group A4, alongside Germany against Serbia and Greece against the Netherlands in League A Group A2.

Wales set up in a 5-4-1, five defenders behind four midfielders and one striker, with Ward in goal; Dasilva, Thomas, Davies, Cabango and Williams; Cullen, Ampadu, James and James; and Koumas up front. Norway answered with a 4-3-3, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards, naming Nyland; Møller Wolfe, Heggem, Ajer and Ryerson; Aursnes, Berge and Ødegaard; Schjelderup, Haaland and Bobb, according to The Guardian. Ødegaard was fit and started. Brennan Johnson was on the bench for Wales.

Denmark went with a 4-2-3-1, two holding midfielders behind three attackers and one striker, selecting Hermansen; Maehle, Andersen, Provstgaard and Nissen Kristensen; Højbjerg and Hjulmand; Daramy, Damsgaard and Daghim; and Højlund. Portugal chose a 4-3-3 with Costa; Mendes, Veiga, Rúben Dias and Cancelo; Vitinha, Neves and Fernandes; Leão, Ramos and Neto.

There was a new look to Portugal. Dias was installed as captain and Rafael Leão took the No 7 shirt after Ronaldo quit the squad. It was a changing of the guard in simple numbers. The armband and the famous shirt both moved on.

Germany picked a 4-1-2-3 with Urbig; Mittelstädt, Thiaw, Anton and Treu; Pavlovic; Wirtz and Bischof; Scherhant, Woltemade and Gnabry. Serbia replied with a 4-4-2, four defenders, four midfielders and two strikers, naming Petrovic; Babic, Gudelj, Erakovic and Nedeljkovic; Kostic, Dzodic, Maksimovic and Zivkovic; Tadic and Jovic.

For Germany, it was a night of firsts. Jonas Urbig and Derry Scherhant made their debuts. Serge Gnabry returned after injury to captain his country for the first time. Germany came into the game after a difficult start, a 1-0 defeat to Greece in Augsburg that put Greece top of the group and spoiled Jurgen Klopp's debut in the home dugout as Germany manager.

For fans, this means a rare thing. Three separate stories unfolded at the same time, yet supporters in Cardiff, Copenhagen and the German stands shared the same kick-off wait and the same first-whistle lift.