Palhinha's Kiss to His Son and the Euphoria as the National Team Departs for Oslo (Video and Photos)

The National Team departed for Oslo, Norway, this Friday afternoon to continue their Nations League group stage campaign. The atmosphere was a blend of profound family emotion, public euphoria, and a widespread sense of optimism.

Shortly after 3 PM, Portugal's team bus left the Cidade do Futebol facilities in Caxias, heading towards the restricted area of Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon. There, a dozen fans eagerly awaited their idols. Among the unwavering national supporters, a small group of enthusiasts from Japan, proudly sporting national team jerseys, notably stood out.

One by one, the 25 footballers selected by Jorge Jesus disembarked from the vehicle. Visibly relaxed, they offered smiles, waves, and greetings to the fans and journalists present. Cristiano Ronaldo, as usual, commanded most of the attention and cheers, but the most touching and human moment of the farewell belonged to João Palhinha.

The Benfica midfielder had his father waiting by the entrance, holding his young son. Palhinha immediately approached his family for a moment of immense affection, bidding farewell to his son with a tight hug and a lingering kiss before joining his teammates at the boarding terminal.

Although the passage from the bus to the boarding area lasted just over a minute, the interaction with the public was intense. Players like João Cancelo, Palhinha, captain Ronaldo, and particularly Vitinha—one of the most accommodating for selfies and autograph signings—made sure to approach the fence to reciprocate the affection.

The enthusiasm also spread to dozens of airport workers and staff who momentarily paused their duties to film the moment and shout encouragement to the Portuguese delegation. They also celebrated the presence of João Félix, the hero of the previous night, who scored the solitary goal that secured a 1-0 victory over Wales at Alvalade Stadium.

The journey to Northern Europe followed a very productive morning training session at Cidade do Futebol. In the aftermath of the debut match of the Jorge Jesus era, the medical report brought excellent news: no injuries or physical limitations were recorded within the squad. There had been doubts regarding Nuno Mendes' condition, but these were dispelled: the PSG full-back traveled to Oslo with the rest of the team.

During the morning session, the coach divided the team into two groups, with Thursday's starters focusing on recovery and gym work, while the substitutes took to the pitch for tactical routines and high-intensity drills.

The National Team thus traveled at full strength for a demanding and crucial cycle. In Oslo, Portugal will face Norway this Sunday—who are coming off a morale-boosting 3-2 victory over Denmark—followed by a trip to Danish soil on October 1st.

This double fixture concludes on October 4th, when the 'Seleção das Quinas' will play at home against Norway again, with the clear objective of leading their Nations League group outright.