Portugal and Slovenia will meet each other for the first time in history this Tuesday in Ljubljana in a friendly that will serve as preparation for the final stage of Euro 2024 football, for which both countries qualify.
Playing for the first time on Slovenian soil, Portugal will look to build on their 12th straight win and maintain a comprehensive victory under Roberto Martinez in a match that will once again see the Spanish coach take advantage of testing game situations, as well as new players and others less used.
Matheus Nunez, who was injured, did not go to the Slovenian capital and will probably drop out, and Nuno Mendes should also rest, including due to physical problems.
After Jota Silva’s debut in the 5-2 win over Sweden, Dani Mota and Francisco Conceição will also be able to experience the first minutes of their careers in the first team.
Diogo Dalot, Joao Cancelo, Danilo Pereira, Ruben Neves, Vitinha, Otavio, Joao Felix and captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who were absent by choice at the meeting with the Swedes in Guimarães, returned.
Ronaldo, the most capped player of all time (205) and top scorer (128), could even increase his number of victims at national team level, having scored against 47 countries during his career.
In competitions since 1992, after the collapse of Yugoslavia, the Slovenian team has never crossed paths with Portugal, despite having already been to the final stages of two World Cups and one European Championship, as well as all the qualifications since that year.
The first ever Slovenia-Portugal match is scheduled for 20:45 local time (19:45 in Lisbon) at the Stožice Stadium in Ljubljana. He will be judged by Irfan Pelto from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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.
The Kinas team is in Group F of Euro 2024, in which they will face Turkey, the Czech Republic and the winner of play-off path C (Georgia or Greece).
The European debut is scheduled for June 18, with the Czechs in Leipzig, then fights with the Turks on the 22nd in Dortmund and with the Georgians or Greeks on the 26th 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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