Portugal women lose 3-1 in Finland but it’s mission accomplished

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·9 June 2026

Portugal women lose 3-1 in Finland but it’s mission accomplished

Portugal women’s coach Francisco Neto will have plenty to dwell on after a poor display by his team. (Photo: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

Despite the defeat, it was a classic case of the result being better than the display for Portugal women against Finland today. The home team needed to win by three clear goals to leapfrog the Seleção at the top of Group B3 in the Tammelan Stadion in Tampere, in southern Finland.

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Two goals by Nea Lehtola and an Eva Nyström header gave Finland the victory, with Kika Nazareth’s first-half equaliser proving vital for the final outcome.

Portugal win Group B3 on goal difference which means they are promoted back to the top tier of the Nations League, as well as securing their berth in the playoffs for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil next year.

Portugal coach Francisco Neto will be aware that a big improvement will be required if his team are to battle through a series of playoff matches to book their place at a second consecutive World Cup.

The Nordic team dominated the game from start to finish and with better finishing could have won by the scoreline they needed.

The hosts had 18 efforts at goal in total (8 on target), with Portugal producing less than half of their opponents in both metrics (7 in total, 3 on target).

Beyond the numbers, the overall performance from Portugal was in complete contrast to the good form they had shown in their previous five matches, the hosts faster to the ball, more aggressive, and exploiting wide open spaces left behind Portugal’s flanks.

As well as scoring three goals, Finland’s Lotta Lindström hit the post and Portugal’s best player by far was goalkeeper Inês Pereira, who saved the Seleção multiple times in several one-on-one situations.

In hindsight, Neto’s decision to make seven changes from the team that had played so well against Latvia in the 5-0 win in Estoril on Friday looked ill-judged.

Youngsters Nelly Rodrigues and Carolina Santiago had impressed against Latvia, as well as midfielder Andreia Faria, but all three players started on the bench which will only fuel criticism directed at Neto about the slow pace of his renewal of the team.

Neto has been in charge of Portugal women for over a decade and clearly still trusts his veteran players more than emerging talents in high-stake games.

Portugal coach Francisco Neto:

“It is a fair result. We never managed to do what we did in previous games. We lacked intensity; we lost out in all our duels.

“That said, we achieved our two objectives, which were to gain promotion to the Nations League A league and to win the group to get a more favourable draw in the World Cup playoffs. We were in this position thanks to what we had done in our five previous matches, and overall we deserved to win the group.

“But when we represent Portugal, we can’t celebrate a defeat.”