Jorge Jesus did not leave much room for doubt before Norway Vs Portugal. Ahead of Sunday’s match in Oslo, the Portugal coach said he has “zero” fear of Norway, even if he was quick to underline why the game deserves respect. Portugal and Norway have both started the Nations League Group 4 campaign with wins, so this is not just another early fixture. It is a meeting that can shape the first sense of leadership in the group.
Jesus framed Norway as a team in one of the best moments in its history, pointing to what they did at the Last World Cup and to the individual quality that makes them dangerous. He singled out Haaland and Odegaard as part of what he described as one of the best attacking duos in Europe right now. That is not the language of dismissal. It is the language of a coach who knows the opponent is real, but does not intend to let that fear dictate his own team’s approach.
Portugal need speed, not excuses
There is also a practical edge to the timing. Jesus said he would have preferred the game to come later, but stressed that this cannot be used as an excuse. This is his second match in charge of Portugal, and he noted that the team must accelerate the process, be creative and treat these matches as serious work rather than pre-season preparation. That matters because Nations League points do not wait for a new coach to settle in.
The coach also pointed to a small but notable detail: among new national team coaches, he said only he and Zinedine Zidane won their first match. It is a brief reminder that results can create early momentum, but it does not change the bigger task ahead. Portugal are trying to build something quickly, while Norway arrive with confidence after beating Denmark 3-2 in their opener.
For Norway, Sunday at 15:45 in Oslo is a chance to confirm that their strong run is not a momentary spike. For Portugal, it is a chance to show that a new era can start without caution taking over. Jesus may not fear Norway, but he clearly understands why this is a demanding test. In Group 4 of the Nations League A, that combination usually means the match will tell us something useful about both teams.
