Portugal 1-1 United States

A young and inexperienced American side looking for hope following the disastrous 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign put Portugal to the test in their final match of the calendar year in Leiria.

Debutante Weston McKennie scored an impressive goal to give the visitors a deserved first half lead. 

Though Portugal improved in the 2nd half, it must be said that the outcome might have been different were it not for a howler by Ethan Horvath. Fernando Santos will have been given plenty to think about after watching his own experiment falter against the athleticism and physicality of the Americans.

Portugal 3-0 Saudi Arabia

No Cristiano, no problem.

Portugal exercised superb command of midfield from start to finish at the Estádio do Fontelo in a match benefitting those affected by the recent and devastating wildfires.

Gonçalo Guedes' searing pace, Danilo's passing control, and Bernardo Silva's vertical runs through midfield carried the Seleção to a dominant victory that the final scoreline did not wholly reflect.

Portugal play the first of two friendly matches tomorrow in Viseu against Saudi Arabia, with two overriding goals for coach Fernando Santos and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).

From the sporting point of view, Santos has used the opportunity to call up an array of players on the periphery of the Seleção to help him assess which ones could be part of the 23-man squad he will take to Russia for next summer’s World Cup.

Aside from the football, the FPF have made the two games central to a fund-raising campaign to aid the areas and residents affected by Portugal’s devastating wildfires in October.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos today named a largely experimental squad for the friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and USA.

As the European champions begin their preparations for the 2018 World Cup, four players are called up to the senior squad for the first time: defenders Kevin Rodrigues, Ricardo Ferreira and Edgar Ié and attacking midfielder Rony Lopes.

Porto goalkeeper José Sá and veteran midfielder Manuel Fernandes are two more names who stand out, while several certainties for the World Cup such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Rui Patrício are rested.