Portugal vs Wales Preview - Jorge Jesus era begins in the UEFA Nations League

Ronaldo scored Portugal's opening goal against Wales in the UEFA Euro 2016 semi-final (Stu Forster/Getty)

A new era begins at Estádio José Alvalade on Thursday when Portugal host Wales in the UEFA Nations League.

Jorge Jesus will manage his nation for the first time after a lengthy and successful career at club level. The 72-year-old replaces Roberto Martínez and has kept faith with the majority of the squad that went out in the 2026 World Cup round of 16.

Portugal Squad

Samuel Soares gets a call up after becoming first choice at Benfica, displacing José Sá. Matheus Nunes and Nélson Semedo miss out with Nuno Tavares earning a recall.

João Palhinha is back in the squad ahead of Samuel Costa and Fábio Silva takes Gonçalo Guedes' spot in attack. Cristiano Ronaldo continues for the Seleção, the 41-year-old attempting to add to his 146 international goals.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Rui Silva, Samuel SoaresDefenders: Rúben Dias, João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Diogo Dalot, Gonçalo Inácio, Renato Veiga, Tomás Araújo, Nuno TavaresMidfielders: Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Rúben Neves, Vitinha, João Palhinha, João NevesForwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, João Félix, Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, Gonçalo Ramos, Francisco Conceição, Francisco Trincão, Fábio Silva

Wales Squad

Leeds United duo Joe Rodon and Harry Wilson are out but Craig Bellamy still has plenty of Premier League experience at his disposal.

Tottenham's Ben Davies will anchor the defence, Nottingham Forest's Neco Williams provides a threat from left-back and Leeds' Ethan Ampadu holds the midfield together.

The Dragons have strength out wide with David Brooks, Brennan Johnson, Sorba Thomas and Daniel James all dangerous on the flanks.

Goalkeepers: Danny Ward, Tom King, David CornellDefenders: Ben Davies, Connor Roberts, Neco Williams, Chris Mepham, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Ben Cabango, Jay Dasilva, Jayden LienouMidfielders: Ethan Ampadu, Jordan James, Josh Sheehan, Liam Cullen, Wes Burns, Joel Colwill, Cameron Congreve, Charlie SavageForwards: Daniel James, Kieffer Moore, David Brooks, Brennan Johnson, Sorba Thomas, Mark Harris, Lewis Koumas, Cian Ashford, Joe Taylor

Head-to-Head Record

Portugal’s first three matches against Wales were in friendlies, the last played in 2000 when Luís Figo, Ricardo Sá Pinto and Capucho fired the Seleção to a 3-0 win in Chaves.

There has been one competitive clash, a 2016 European Championship semi-final in Lyon. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring and assisted Nani in a 2-0 victory as Fernando Santos' side went on to win the tournament.

Jorge Jesus Quotes

"I looked at the squad that was at the World Cup and you can't field two teams at the same level in Portugal... I also looked at those who weren't at the World Cup and who I could choose, and at the characteristics that could fit within my model."

"We've already talked about the four new additions compared to the last squad, but it has nothing to do with the previous coach's. He had one idea and I have another. Besides those players you mentioned, others are being observed. I've spoken several times with my colleague from the Under-21s, Luís Freire. I felt it wasn't their opportunity yet, that they are the present and the future."

"I need to speed up the process so that the players can identify with what I want. I'll say another one of my phrases: 'I have field training and indoor training.' There are no lectures. I strongly believe in the intelligence of the players and they have to solve all the situations that happen during the game."

"Analysing players live? That would be important. The last one I saw was Bernardo Silva in Madrid. Today it's easy to see many players without being present, even though our technical team spreads out to watch several games."

Jorge Jesus (Diogo Pinto/FPF)

"Everyone made a preliminary squad list, ours has 46 players. In this first period, we have 25 players. Having a squad of 44 players in the second phase of the Nations League... they can't be injured and there have to be changes. To me, it makes no sense at all. Regarding Cristiano Ronaldo, I believe he has to score his 1,000th goal more for Al Nassr than for the national team."

"Samuel Soares is a 24-year-old goalkeeper. Apart from Diogo Costa, Rui Silva and José Sá, who were usually called up, were older. We wanted to incorporate a third goalkeeper."

"João Félix isn't a player to play on the wing with me. That doesn't mean a strategic change can't happen during the game. He'll always be a second striker and a first striker. With time, I have no doubt that he'll be a first striker, given his creative and finishing ability."

"Rafael Leão always played as a first striker for me. At Sporting, I played him as a first striker against FC Porto and he even scored, although I had already played him there before."

"Each coach has their own ideas about the game, and I have mine about what I want for the National Team, believing in the quality of the players and what we have done at the clubs we have represented. Within my idea, there is more of a second striker than a third midfielder, so there are several players besides Félix who can play that position, such as Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leão, and Francisco Trincão. I need to understand their playing characteristics to adapt them to my ideas."

"Of the four new players, apart from Fábio Silva, all of them worked with me. Samuel Soares, João Palhinha, and Nuno Tavares. They worked with me, and I with them. Except for João, in 2030 they still won't be 30 years old; they are players of the present and the future."

Fábio Silva Quotes

"First of all, I'm very happy to be here. Regarding the characteristics the coach was talking about, I think I'm a forward who has very different qualities. I'm not a fixed player or someone who just sticks to marking inside the box; I can drop back to link up play and move into other positions up front. I can ask for passes at my feet or in space."

"I went through all the levels in the National Team, I always tried to do my best. I was also important in the other levels and it's important to have this base. I tried to do my best to reach the main team, I'm here now and I'm happy. There's always time, age is just a number. I'm very happy, I'm going to take advantage of this, learn and show the coach that I want to be here more often and I want to be important in this team."

"I had never worked with coach Jorge Jesus before, but of course I've always followed his career, which everyone knows about. He needs no introduction. There's no need to talk about his achievements. I'm one of the few here who hasn't worked with him, but I know how much the players improve under him. I want to learn a lot. I'm going to become an even better player, that's what I'm focused on."

"It's a pleasure to be here and to be able to learn from him (Ronaldo). He's an idol, the person I've always looked up to since I was little, and I've always wanted the opportunity to have these moments with him. I try to learn from him, to know what I can improve, and that's what I'm going to focus on. Everyone knows his worth, and it's a source of pride for me to enjoy these moments with him."

"When I left (Porto), I wasn't as well prepared, especially going to the best league in the world, with a very high level of demand. But that made me grow and learn. The places I've been have given me a lot of maturity. I feel like a very complete player, but not yet perfect; I still have a lot to improve and refine. I feel better and better, happier and more prepared."