Rafael Lean became the third player to be released due to injury from the Portugal squad for the games against Liechtenstein and Iceland in the Euro 2024 qualifying round, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced this Sunday.
“The Milan striker suffered a muscle injury and was declared unfit to participate in the double round that concludes the qualifying stage of the 2024 European Championship,” reads a statement published on the official website of the FPF.
Lean was coach Roberto Martinez’s third loss in this squad after the departure of Nelson Semedo (Wolverhampton), who was replaced by Raphael Guerreiro (Bayern) and Pepe (Porto).
The striker suffered a muscle injury in his right thigh on Saturday in Milan’s clash with Lecce in the Italian league.
The concentration of the 24 players called up by coach Roberto Martinez is scheduled for late Monday afternoon at the Cidade do Futebol stadium in Oeiras.
The national team will face Liechtenstein on Thursday at 19:45 (Lisbon time) in Vaduz, and three days later at the same time with Iceland at the José Alvalade Stadium.
Portugal leads Group J with 24 points, eight more than second-placed Slovakia, with Luxembourg third with 11. Iceland is fourth with 10 points, ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina with nine and Liechtenstein in last with no points. .