Italy 0-0 Portugal

Portugal were outplayed from the first minute, but found the will to endure a stern test from Italy and earn the result they needed to win their Nations League group tonight in Milan. 

Roberto Mancini clearly understood what was at stake and his side relentlessly pressed the visitors, but Portugal were resolute and gave away relatively few clear chances.

Big performances from José Fonte and the rest of the back four were instrumental as Portugal were forced to hold on for long stretches of the game, especially in the first half. The win marks another crucial milestone in the the squad's evolution without Cristiano Ronaldo. 

European Champions José Fonte, Raphaël Guerreiro, João Mário and André Gomes have all been recalled to the Portugal squad for the Nations League double-header against Italy (away) and Poland (home).

None of the four players have featured in a series of promising Portugal performances since the World Cup but they have earned a recall thanks to good form shown in recent weeks for their club sides. As previously announced, captain Cristiano Ronaldo remains out of the Seleção picture until 2019.

Portugal’s U21 team made the play-offs for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship with a 4-2 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina at the Estádio dos Barreiros in Madeira tonight. The win followed a commanding 9-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein to leave Rui Jorge’s side on 22 points in Group 8.

Romania topped the group but Portugal were good enough to be one of the four best runners-up. They will meet Greece, Poland or Austria in the play-offs which will be held in November.

• Portugal,
• Scotland
• Eder
• Bruma
• Helder Costa
• Steven Naismith

Scotland 1-3 Portugal

A debut goal for Hélder Costa and a couple of second-half efforts from Eder and Bruma charged Portugal on to a 3-1 victory over Scotland at Hampden Park, this evening, as the Seleção wrapped up a satisfactory international double-header.

In a tight first-half affair, Costa took his chance on the brink of half time to give the European champions a 1-0 lead going into the break. As the Scots prepared a fight-back in the second period, Portugal dealt with the threat that never really came, adding greater comfort to the score-line later in the half with a couple more efforts prior to Steven Naismith's consolation goal.