On Friday, Portuguese coach Roberto Martinez will announce the squad for the friendlies against Sweden and Slovenia, a list that is set to be expanded and added with new features as it is the last before the final selection for Euro 2024 football.
In terms of absences, Diogo Jota and Ricardo Horta are the definite casualties due to injury in the March window, in which the national coach has already suggested that it will be necessary to assemble the “regulars” with some new players, as well as begin preparations. team for the final stage of the European Championship, which will be held in June-July in Germany.
For this reason, Martinez is likely to have a “hardcore” squad led by captain Cristiano Ronaldo, but also including names such as Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Ruben Dias, with the possibility of some less conventional players appearing as well.
Given the slightly longer training period (about 10 days), the national coach should give another opportunity to Bruma, João Mário (Porto) and Diogo Leite, who were included in the selection and even added minutes in the qualifying stage (Bruma and João Mário) .
Nuno Mendes is expected to return after a long break due to injury, while Pedro Goncalves, Nuno Santos and Francisco Conceição could appear on Martinez’s list.
Galeno, who has been in excellent form at Porto and has been called up several times for the Portuguese national team, was one of the new signings the Spanish coach was expecting, but in recent days Brazil have anticipated and called up the winger to the Canarinho.
Despite this, Martinez can publicly challenge Galeno and leave the player to choose between representing the country of his birth or the country in which he has lived since 2016.
Also worth mentioning is Pepe, who missed almost the entire qualifying stage due to physical problems (he played only one full match in a 1-0 win in Iceland), but who is in excellent form at Porto and will likely be an option for Martinez.
The names of those chosen will be announced at a press conference scheduled for 12:30 at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras.
The national team hosts Sweden, which failed to qualify, on March 21 at the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimarães, before traveling to Ljubljana five days later (26) to play the Slovenians, who will take part in Euro 2024.
Portugal will also play three more preparatory matches ahead of participation in this year’s European Championship, all on Portuguese soil, with Finland at the Estadio José Alvalade (Croatia) at the National Stadium and the Republic of Ireland in Aveiro on 4 and 8 August. and June 11, respectively.
Kinas are in Group F of Euro 2024, in which they will face Turkey, the Czech Republic and the winner of Play-Off Path C (Georgia, Luxembourg, Greece or Kazakhstan), which will be announced this month. .
The European debut is scheduled for June 18, with the Czechs in Leipzig, then the fights with the Turks on June 22 in Dortmund, and with the opponent leaving the playoffs – on June 26 in Gelsenkirchen.
The 2024 European Championships will take place in Germany from June 14 to July 14.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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