"A harsh lesson": Ruben Dias admits Denmark exposed Portugal's flaws

The heavy defeat to Denmark was not merely a bad night in Portugal's UEFA Nations League campaign, but one that brought back questions about the team's ability to handle big matches, after it found itself unable to keep pace with its opponent in decisive moments.

Rúben Dias admitted Denmark deserved their 4-1 win over Portugal on Saturday, in the fifth round of the UEFA Nations League group stage. The defender believes the defeat laid bare the areas his side must sharpen before their final match.

Dias told Portuguese newspaper "Ojogo": "Above all, Denmark were better. They have a team of great quality, and we know that. We needed to produce our best level to secure the win, but they imposed their control over crucial periods of the match."

"They scored their goals at impactful moments too, like the first goal that came right before the end of the first half, which somewhat changed the nature of the match, after the play had been fairly balanced," he added.

"In the second half, while we were trying to restore our balance, they scored the second and third goals, which frustrated us. It is a lesson for us. We were not surprised by their level because we have faced them many times before, but we were not good enough, and we must put in a better performance," Dias continued.

Dias pinpointed the main reasons behind his team's collapse: "The problem began when they managed to take possession of the ball in a dangerous manner, while we were unable to feel comfortable while holding it, which caused us to be drained and created a state of imbalance."

"Everything started from this point, then things developed and other problems emerged during the match," he explained. Harsh as the scoreline was, Dias insisted the defeat does not wipe out Portugal's work across the group. Their high ambitions, he said, force them to treat every loss seriously.

On that point he was clear: "The defeat has its weight and impact, especially with the ambition we have to win every match. We are top of the group, and reaching this position required a lot of work, and we still have one match left to seal what we have accomplished."

Portugal must learn from the Denmark defeat and fix the mistakes before Tuesday's final match against Wales, with Dias urging his side to confirm their place at the top. It is the first defeat in the group for Jorge Jesus's team, who lead on 12 points. Denmark moved up to nine, while Norway climbed to six this evening after beating Wales 3-1 in the same round.