PORTO, Portugal, October 4, 2026: Gonçalo Ramos sent Portugal into the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals. Joshua Zirkzee pushed the Netherlands to the top of one of the competition’s tightest groups. Germany produced sustained pressure without a goal. Rasmus Højlund punished the mistake that left Wales with almost no margin for error.
Across eight Nations League matches on Sunday, the scores were generally close. The consequences were not.
Portugal became the first team to secure a place in the March 2027 quarter-finals after recovering to beat Norway 2-1. The Netherlands defeated Serbia by the same score and moved to the top of Group A2, level with unbeaten Greece on eight points. Germany’s 0-0 draw in Thessaloniki left Jürgen Klopp’s team three points behind both.
Denmark’s 1-0 victory in Cardiff created daylight in the race for second place behind Portugal. Austria survived a difficult night in Kosovo to keep control of League B Group 3, while the Republic of Ireland surrendered another lead and remained behind Kosovo on the head-to-head tiebreak.
Story at a glance
Portugal 2-1 Norway: Ramos Turns a Difficult Night Into Qualification
Portugal entered Sunday with three wins from three and the knowledge that another victory would guarantee a top-two place in Group A4.
What Portugal’s Qualification Does to Group A4
Wales are shown above Norway because they won their October 1 meeting 2-1, giving them the head-to-head advantage between the two teams currently level on three points.
Wales 0-1 Denmark: Danny Ward Goes From Savior to the Decisive Error
The cruelty of goalkeeping was captured in a few second-half minutes in Cardiff.
Netherlands 2-1 Serbia: Zirkzee Sends Xavi’s Team to the Top
The Netherlands had already demonstrated resilience during the first three games of Xavi Hernández’s tenure.
Greece 0-0 Germany: Fifteen First-Half Attempts Produce No Reward
Germany’s frustration in Thessaloniki cannot be explained by a lack of possession or attacking volume.
Lower down the competition, Malta moved within reach of winning Group D1 and Azerbaijan displaced Lithuania at the top of D2.
The official UEFA Matchday 4 report confirms all eight Sunday results and the night’s principal match incidents.
The developments complete the first four-game international window of the new campaign, which began with a dramatic opening night in which Haaland, Greece and late goals immediately altered the early group picture.
UEFA Nations League Results From October 4, 2026
| League | Group | Match | Result | Decisive Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | A2 | Greece vs Germany | 0-0 | Germany controlled long stretches but failed to convert its pressure |
| A | A2 | Netherlands vs Serbia | 2-1 | Joshua Zirkzee scored the winner with 19 minutes remaining |
| A | A4 | Portugal vs Norway | 2-1 | Gonçalo Ramos struck in the 79th minute to seal qualification |
| A | A4 | Wales vs Denmark | 0-1 | Danny Ward’s misplaced pass led to Rasmus Højlund’s penalty |
| B | B3 | Kosovo vs Austria | 1-1 | Christoph Lang headed Austria level in the 85th minute |
| B | B3 | Republic of Ireland vs Israel | 1-1 | Dor Peretz answered Troy Parrott’s penalty immediately after halftime |
| D | D1 | Malta vs Andorra | 1-0 | Teddy Teuma scored four minutes after halftime |
| D | D2 | Azerbaijan vs Lithuania | 1-0 | Abdulakh Khaibulaev’s 25th-minute goal moved Azerbaijan top |
Portugal 2-1 Norway: Ramos Turns a Difficult Night Into Qualification
Portugal entered Sunday with three wins from three and the knowledge that another victory would guarantee a top-two place in Group A4.
Norway made them work for it.
Kristoffer Ajer produced the first major intervention in the 36th minute, meeting the ball on the edge of the area with a spectacular half-volley that gave the visitors the lead.
Portugal’s response took only two minutes.
João Cancelo attacked from range and drove a powerful finish beyond Ørjan Nyland to restore parity before the match had time to settle into a different rhythm.
That two-minute sequence became the first major turning point.
Gonçalo Ramos Delivers Again When Portugal Need a Goal
Norway remained competitive deep into the second half, but Portugal had increasingly forced the game toward the visitors’ penalty area.
The breakthrough finally came in the 79th minute.
João Félix intelligently redirected the ball across the area and Ramos applied the decisive finish.
Ramos has become central to Portugal’s Nations League campaign. TSE had already documented how Félix and Ramos drove Portugal’s 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture in Oslo, when Ramos answered Haaland’s equalizer only minutes later.
Sunday’s goal carried a much larger prize.
Portugal are through.
Conceição’s Red Card Adds One Late Complication
Francisco Conceição received a second yellow card late in the match, forcing Portugal to protect the lead with 10 players.
They did.
The dismissal does not alter the qualification picture, but it gives Jorge Jesus another personnel issue before November.
Portugal have navigated the entire latter part of this window without Cristiano Ronaldo following his departure from the squad. TSE’s detailed account of Ronaldo’s World Cup career and Portugal’s gradual transition away from complete dependence on him has gained another layer during this Nations League campaign.
Haaland’s Exit Gives Norway Another Concern
Erling Haaland limped out during the second half, leaving Norway with both a qualification problem and a fitness question before their November matches.
Norway’s attack continues to contain one of world soccer’s most destructive scorers. Haaland’s World Cup performances were strong enough for him to feature prominently in TSE’s ranking of the leading performers at the 2026 World Cup.
The Nations League has exposed another issue.
Norway have lost three consecutive group games after opening with a 3-2 win over Denmark.
What Portugal’s Qualification Does to Group A4
| Pos. | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portugal | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 12 |
| 2 | Denmark | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | Wales | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 3 |
| 4 | Norway | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 3 |
Wales are shown above Norway because they won their October 1 meeting 2-1, giving them the head-to-head advantage between the two teams currently level on three points.
Portugal’s 12 points place them six clear of Denmark and guarantee a top-two finish. Finishing first still matters because League A group winners are seeded in the quarter-final draw.
The stakes for everybody below Portugal have changed.
Denmark are no longer chasing Portugal simply to keep pace. Their priority is protecting second place.
Wales and Norway meet each other on November 14. That match now carries enormous significance because both sit three points behind Denmark with two fixtures remaining.
Wales 0-1 Denmark: Danny Ward Goes From Savior to the Decisive Error
The cruelty of goalkeeping was captured in a few second-half minutes in Cardiff.
Danny Ward had helped keep Wales level with two outstanding saves, denying Højlund and Gustav Isaksen as Denmark increased the pressure.
Then came the error that decided the match.
A misplaced Ward pass created the sequence from which Denmark won a penalty. Højlund remained composed and converted it.
It was his third goal in his last four Nations League matches.
Why the Penalty Changed More Than One Match
Wales had started brightly and created enough early pressure to keep the crowd engaged. Brennan Johnson and Lewis Koumas offered attacking threat, but Denmark gradually controlled larger areas of the field.
The penalty turned that territorial advantage into a result.
Denmark now have six points.
Wales have three.
The gap means Craig Bellamy’s side can no longer afford to think primarily about incremental improvement. Their final two games are effectively a qualification chase.
The importance of that November meeting with Norway becomes even clearer when placed against the opening-night story. Norway had originally beaten Denmark 3-2 through a Haaland double, a match TSE examined in our Matchday 1 analysis.
Four games later, Denmark have recovered to second while Norway have fallen to the bottom two.
Netherlands 2-1 Serbia: Zirkzee Sends Xavi’s Team to the Top
The Netherlands had already demonstrated resilience during the first three games of Xavi Hernández’s tenure.
Against Serbia, they needed patience.
Teun Koopmeiners gave the Dutch the lead when his free kick passed through a crowded penalty area and found the net.
Serbia responded quickly.
Mihajlo Cvetković climbed above the defense to head in Aleksa Terzić’s cross and bring the visitors level.
Serbia had lost its first three matches, but the equalizer ensured the Netherlands could not treat this as a routine home fixture.
Joshua Zirkzee Finds the Goal That Separates the Teams
The decisive move came in the 72nd minute.
Denzel Dumfries drove the ball across goal, Tijjani Reijnders helped return it into the dangerous area and Zirkzee finished from close range.
The goal moved the Netherlands to eight points.
It also kept Xavi unbeaten after four competitive matches.
TSE examined the scale of the Dutch reset when Xavi was appointed Netherlands coach through the 2030 World Cup. Four Nations League matches later, the early results are two wins and two draws.
Van Dijk’s 100th Cap Ends With Three Points
Virgil van Dijk reached his 100th senior international appearance on a night when the result mattered more than ceremony.
The Netherlands have scored in every group match and remain unbeaten, but they have also conceded in every game.
That pattern is likely to influence Xavi’s preparation for November.
The Dutch possess enough attacking depth to keep finding solutions. Their next task is reducing the number of matches in which they require them.
Greece 0-0 Germany: Fifteen First-Half Attempts Produce No Reward
Germany’s frustration in Thessaloniki cannot be explained by a lack of possession or attacking volume.
Greece actually created the first significant chance, with Jonas Urbig making an excellent save from an unmarked Giorgos Masouras.
Germany then generated the other 15 attempts of the first half.
None became a goal.
Kostas Tzolakis produced the most important Greek save when he repelled David Raum’s powerful effort.
The second half contained less danger, although Philipp Treu had a late opportunity and lifted his half-volley over.
The German Football Association’s match report confirms that Klopp’s side finish this window with five points from four games, three behind both the Netherlands and Greece.
Germany’s Problem Has Shifted From Performance to Conversion
Germany were poor enough in their first defeat to Greece for systemic questions to dominate the conversation.
Sunday was different.
They created pressure and generally controlled the match.
They still did not win.
That distinction matters because Germany’s remaining task has become brutally simple: points are now more important than explanations.
TSE has followed the uncertainty around this German cycle since Paraguay eliminated Germany from the 2026 World Cup on penalties.
Klopp was appointed to reset the direction. Four Nations League matches have produced only one win.
How Group A2 Looks After Netherlands and Greece Stay Unbeaten
| Pos. | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 8 |
| 2 | Greece | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 8 |
| 3 | Germany | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 |
| 4 | Serbia | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 0 |
The Netherlands and Greece are level on points and goal difference, with the current tiebreak sequence placing the Dutch first.
The fixture that could define the group comes immediately after the break.
Netherlands vs Greece on November 13 is now effectively a contest for control of the quarter-final race.
Germany travel to Serbia the same night.
If Klopp’s team cannot win there, the final home match against the Netherlands may arrive with qualification already beyond their control.
Serbia, meanwhile, can no longer reach the top two. Their remaining incentive is significant because League A’s 2026-27 relegation system ranks fourth-placed teams across the league. Avoiding the bottom end of that ranking could mean the difference between a survival playoff and direct relegation.
Kosovo 1-1 Austria: Two Substitutes Change the Group in 15 Minutes
Group B3’s early game looked capable of producing a major shift when Fisnik Asllani came off the bench and put Kosovo ahead in the 70th minute.
The hosts nearly doubled the advantage three minutes later when Milot Rashica hit the post.
That miss became increasingly important.
Austria responded with substitutes of its own.
After Kevin Danso launched a long throw and Saša Kalajdžić helped extend the ball into the area, Christoph Lang headed in the 85th-minute equalizer.
It was Lang’s first senior international goal in only his second appearance.
Austria did not win.
They protected something almost as important: first place.
Republic of Ireland 1-1 Israel: Parrott Scores Again but Another Lead Disappears
Troy Parrott’s remarkable international run continued in Serbia.
The Republic of Ireland striker converted a 39th-minute penalty after a VAR review and moved to four goals in three Nations League matches.
For several minutes, Ireland were provisionally in second place.
That position lasted only until shortly after halftime.
Oscar Gloukh’s effort took a deflection into the path of Israeli captain Dor Peretz, who finished in the 47th minute.
Israel later struck the woodwork twice, while Chiedozie Ogbene forced an important save at the other end.
The match, played behind closed doors in Bačka Topola, Serbia, also featured a heated exchange as the teams entered the tunnel at halftime.
The sporting consequence was straightforward.
Ireland had again failed to protect a lead.
Parrott Is Solving One Problem Ireland Still Cannot Solve Collectively
Parrott’s production is no longer a small-sample curiosity.
Ireland have a reliable source of goals during this campaign.
The larger problem is game management.
They led Austria 2-0 on October 1 and drew 2-2.
They led Israel on Sunday and drew 1-1.
Four potential points disappeared from winning positions across two matches.
That is the difference between leading the group and entering November in third.
League B Group 3 After Austria, Kosovo and Ireland All Take a Point
| Pos. | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austria | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 8 |
| 2 | Kosovo | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 5 |
| 3 | Republic of Ireland | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 5 |
| 4 | Israel | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 2 |
Kosovo remain above Ireland because of their 1-0 head-to-head victory on Matchday 1.
The distinction is particularly important under the new competition structure.
The 2026-27 UEFA Nations League format sends League B group winners directly into League A, while runners-up enter the League A/B playoffs.
Austria therefore hold the automatic-promotion position.
Kosovo and Ireland are not merely fighting over second place in a table. They are fighting for access to a playoff that could move either into League A.
The final Matchday 6 meeting between Ireland and Kosovo could become a direct playoff for the playoff.
Malta 1-0 Andorra: Teddy Teuma Pushes Malta Within Reach of Group D1
Malta needed patience at Ta’ Qali.
Andorra hit the woodwork twice and caused enough problems to prevent the group leaders from controlling the match comfortably.
Teddy Teuma broke the deadlock in the 49th minute after combining with Ilyas Chouaref.
Malta protected the 1-0 advantage and moved to seven points from three matches.
The result extended their unbeaten run in competitive internationals and put them five points ahead of Gibraltar, who have a game in hand.
| Pos. | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malta | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | Gibraltar | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Andorra | 3 | 1 |
One point against Gibraltar in Malta’s final game would guarantee first place.
There is an unusual wrinkle to the 2026-27 League D race.
Because UEFA is restructuring the Nations League into three leagues for 2028-29, all League D teams will be promoted to League C after this edition. Malta and Gibraltar are therefore playing for the group title and final ranking rather than conventional promotion.
Azerbaijan 1-0 Lithuania: One Goal Reverses the Group D2 Order
Lithuania began Sunday above Azerbaijan.
Abdulakh Khaibulaev changed that in the 25th minute.
His first international goal gave Azerbaijan a 1-0 victory and lifted them to five points.
Lithuania actually had more of the ball, but Azerbaijan created the greater threat on target and protected the lead through the second half.
Armandas Kučys was sent off deep into stoppage time as Lithuania’s afternoon ended with another setback.
| Pos. | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azerbaijan | 3 | 5 |
| 2 | Lithuania | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | Liechtenstein | 2 | 1 |
Azerbaijan are now the only unbeaten team in Group D2.
The Five Performances That Changed Sunday’s Nations League Picture
Gonçalo Ramos: Another Winner, This Time With Qualification Attached
Ramos did not merely score Portugal’s second goal.
He converted a difficult night into a place in the quarter-finals and continued a campaign in which Portugal have discovered multiple attacking solutions without relying on one superstar.
Joshua Zirkzee: The Finish That Put the Netherlands First
Serbia had survived the first Dutch lead and threatened to frustrate Xavi’s team.
Zirkzee’s close-range finish prevented that and created a very different Group A2 table entering November.
Rasmus Højlund: Three Nations League Goals in Four Matches
Denmark needed someone to turn Ward’s mistake into a result.
Højlund did not blink from the penalty spot and his recent international production has become central to Denmark’s recovery after losing two of their first three fixtures.
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Parrott has repeatedly provided Ireland with the hardest commodity in international soccer: goals.
His team have repeatedly given part of that advantage back.
That contrast may define Ireland’s final two matches.
Kostas Tzolakis: Greece Keep Germany Behind Them
Germany produced enough pressure to win. Tzolakis and the Greek defense made sure pressure never became separation.
The clean sheet preserved Greece’s three-point advantage over Germany and kept their quarter-final place in their own hands.
What Sunday’s Results Mean for the November Nations League Window
| Group | Current Situation | What Matters Next |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | Netherlands 8, Greece 8, Germany 5 | Netherlands-Greece can decide control of the top two; Germany need a strong finish |
| A4 | Portugal qualified; Denmark 6; Wales and Norway 3 | Denmark protect second while Wales-Norway becomes a near must-win |
| B3 | Austria 8; Kosovo and Ireland 5 | Austria chase automatic promotion; Kosovo and Ireland fight for the playoff place |
| D1 | Malta 7, five clear of Gibraltar | A point in Malta’s final match guarantees the group |
| D2 | Azerbaijan 5, Lithuania 4 | The group remains open entering the final fixtures |
Portugal Can Shift From Qualification to Seeding
Qualification is complete.
The remaining objective is first place.
UEFA seeds League A group winners in the quarter-final draw, so Portugal still have a competitive reason to attack the November matches rather than simply use them as exhibitions.
The Netherlands and Greece Control Their Own Futures
Their November 13 meeting is the biggest remaining Group A2 fixture.
Both have eight points.
Both are unbeaten.
A winner would gain enormous leverage before Matchday 6.
Germany’s strategy is less subtle. They need points, beginning in Serbia.
Germany Need to Stop Leaving Results Until the Final Match
Five points do not eliminate Klopp’s side.
They do remove much of their margin.
Germany face Serbia and then the Netherlands. Six points would take them to 11 and create a genuine route into the top two. Anything significantly less may require help elsewhere.
Denmark Can Force Wales and Norway Into Risk
Denmark’s three-point advantage allows them to approach Portugal differently from Wales and Norway.
The teams below them need victories.
That usually means greater tactical risk.
The direct Norway-Wales meeting should therefore create opportunities for whichever team manages transitions better.
Austria Have the Advantage, but B3 Is Not Finished
Austria remain unbeaten and three points clear.
Their next match is at home to Ireland.
A victory there could put automatic promotion within reach before the final trip to Israel.
Kosovo face Israel before traveling to Ireland’s final-day showdown.
That sequence gives both second-place contenders a clear objective: arrive at Matchday 6 with the playoff place still under their own control.
Why This International Window Changed the Nations League So Quickly
The 2026-27 edition opened with an unusually compressed four-match window.
That created a tournament in which early impressions have been forced to evolve almost immediately.
Norway beat Denmark on Matchday 1. Denmark are now three points above Norway.
Greece beat Germany and led A2. The Netherlands have now caught them.
Ireland lost in Kosovo, then scored three in the reverse context against Israel, led Austria 2-0 and now finish the window level with Kosovo again.
TSE’s earlier analysis of the developing Nations League standings showed how quickly six-match groups can punish one poor evening. Four matches in, those margins have become smaller still.
The best example remains Portugal.
They have taken all 12 available points and are already through.
Everybody else who played Sunday enters November with unfinished business.
For continuing international soccer coverage, analysis and match reports, visit The Sports Encounter’s soccer section.
UEFA Nations League October 4 FAQs
Which team qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals on October 4?
Portugal became the first team to qualify for the 2026-27 quarter-finals after beating Norway 2-1 and moving to 12 points from four games.
Who scored Portugal’s winner against Norway?
Gonçalo Ramos scored in the 79th minute after João Félix redirected the ball into his path.
Who leads Nations League Group A2?
The Netherlands sit first with eight points, level with Greece. Germany are third with five points.
What happened in Greece vs Germany?
The match finished 0-0. Germany created sustained first-half pressure but failed to beat goalkeeper Kostas Tzolakis.
Who scored the winner for the Netherlands against Serbia?
Joshua Zirkzee scored from close range in the 72nd minute to give the Netherlands a 2-1 victory.
Who scored Denmark’s goal against Wales?
Rasmus Højlund converted the penalty created after Danny Ward’s misplaced pass.
Who leads League B Group 3?
Austria lead with eight points. Kosovo and the Republic of Ireland both have five, with Kosovo ahead on the head-to-head tiebreak.
How many goals has Troy Parrott scored in his last three Nations League games?
Parrott has scored four goals in three Nations League matches after converting against Israel.
Do League D teams need to win their groups to earn promotion?
No. Because the competition is transitioning toward a three-league structure, every League D team in the 2026-27 edition will move into League C for the next cycle.
When are the next Nations League matches?
Matchdays 5 and 6 will be played from November 12 through November 17, 2026.
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