Portugal remain on track to qualify for the 2021 UEFA European U21 Championship after two routine wins. Rui Jorge’s side beat Norway 4-1 in Estoril and won 3-0 in Gibraltar with three Group 7 matches remaining. 

Portugoal's Matthew Marshall breaks down both matches and suggests some players to watch that could be flying under the radar.

France 0-0 Portugal

The Seleção revealed just how much they have improved in the four years since defeating France in the Euro 2016 final with a grounded, energetic, and well-balanced exhibition tonight in St. Denis.

Portugal quieted the host's significant attacking threats and managed to carve out several opportunities of their own in a tight contest befitting two titans of the modern game.

The eventual 0-0 result, though not worth celebrating at the present, maintained Portugal's unbeaten form in the group and leaves them well-positioned to again secure a UEFA Nations League championship playoff berth.

• Portugal,
• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Joao Felix
• Spain
• Renato Sanches

Portugal 0-0 Spain

Portugal were held to a 0-0 draw at home to neighbouring Spain after hitting the crossbar twice in a friendly hosted at the Alvalade, welcoming 2,500 socially-distanced fans.

The Seleção das Quinas looked second best among Spain’s possession-scented brand of football before edging themselves closer to the opener in the second half, via Cristiano Ronaldo’s strike against the bar.

Renato Sanches encountered the same sense of agony moments later after also being denied by the frame of the goal before a head-in-hands miss from João Félix, a minute from time, concluded a goalless draw.

After the state of near-euphoria caused by Portugal’s powerful displays against Croatia and Sweden last month, it is no surprise that Seleção coach Fernando Santos has selected a similar squad for the upcoming matches against Spain, France and Sweden.  

Four new faces make the cut compared to the previous squad in Rafa Silva, Daniel Podence, Rúben Semedo and William Carvalho, while Domingos Duarte, André Gomes and Gonçalo Guedes drop out to make way for the recalled quartet. 

The rest of the squad remains the same, and given the calibre of the opposition, it will be interesting to see if in a couple of weeks we are talking about “a reality check” or “confirmation Portugal are contenders to win big”.