Nations League: Greece stun Germany in home upset as benched Ronaldo watches Portugal win

The latest round of Nations League fixtures delivered unbelievable drama. Despite dominating with 75% possession, Germany suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Greece, marking their first-ever loss to the Greeks in 10 historic meetings.

In Group A4, Cristiano Ronaldo was an unused substitute for the entire 90 minutes in Portugal's 2-1 victory over Norway. This marked the first time the superstar failed to play a single minute in a competitive international match in exactly 6,678 days.

These bold selection calls and unpredictable results set the stage for a highly dramatic Nations League matchday.

Greece pull off historic shock against Klopp's Germany

At the WWK Arena, Jürgen Klopp's Germany dominated completely, enjoying 75% possession in the first half. However, Die Mannschaft's relentless attacks were repeatedly thwarted by the brilliance of goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.

The turning point came in the 74th minute when Dimitrios Kourbelis' strike deflected off Joshua Kimmich and into the net for the only goal of the game. This historic result handed Greece their first-ever win over Germany in 10 attempts, ending a dismal run of three draws and seven defeats.

The shock result immediately shook up Group A2. Greece sit top with a perfect six points, while Germany slip to third with just a single point.

Ronaldo benched in historic first as Portugal down Norway

Portugal secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Norway in Oslo on a night when Cristiano Ronaldo remained benched for the full 90 minutes. At 41 years of age, this was the first time since 15 June 2008—a span of 6,678 days—that the superstar did not feature for a single minute in a competitive international fixture.

Starting in place of his veteran teammate, Gonçalo Ramos netted the winner in the 54th minute. Earlier, Erling Haaland had equalised for Norway in the 51st minute, reaching 22 goals to become the Nations League's all-time top scorer.

The result leaves Portugal top of Group A4 with a perfect six points from their opening two matches.

Republic of Ireland thrash Israel in politically charged clash

The Nations League Group B3 clash between the Republic of Ireland and Israel ended in a resounding 3-0 victory for the Irish. The match was played at a neutral venue due to security concerns and escalating political tensions surrounding the conflict in Gaza.

True to their pre-match statements, the Irish players staged a direct protest. The entire squad wore black armbands, bowed their heads, and refused to partake in the traditional pre-match handshakes with their Israeli counterparts.

Editorial Verdict

This latest round of Nations League fixtures delivered genuine shocks, exposing the ruthless nature of elite football in a period of transition. Germany's defeat and Cristiano Ronaldo's historic benching are stark reminders that no powerhouse or legacy is untouchable.

Change is inevitable for teams to evolve and build for the future. In your view, was manager Jorge Jesus' decision to leave Ronaldo on the bench for the full 90 minutes the right call for Portugal's future?