Roberto Martinez announces players on a list that should see few changes

Coach Roberto Martinez announces Portugal’s squad for the final two Euro 2024 qualifiers on Friday. There are some absences on the roster, some expected returns, but no major “experience.”

Even though qualification and first place in Group J are guaranteed, the Spanish coach has already publicly set himself the goal of ending qualification with only victories, which would be unprecedented in the history of the national team, leaving it until next year in preparation for the tournament. European Championship, the opportunity to challenge new faces.

Danilo, having physical problems at Paris Saint-Germain, is a definite victim, as is Raphael Guerreiro, who was called up in October but never joined the training camp, remaining to recover at Bayern Munich and the situation continues.

Ricardo Horta, who was also released last month due to physical problems, appears to have what it takes to make Martinez’s list, where the biggest doubt appears to be the continuity of Joao Neves.

The Benfica midfielder, who made his international debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina (5-0) in Zenica, has been the subject of several compliments from the national coach and all indications are that he will continue to study in the Spanish coach’s schools despite his youth (19 years) and the importance he has in the under-21 team fighting to qualify for the 2025 European Championship.

With just one game under Martinez (in a 1-0 win over Iceland in June), Pepe could be the big news in the team after he was absent for almost the entire qualifying stage due to physical problems while he was already has passed 40 years.

Matheus Nunez, who is getting more and more minutes at Manchester City, could also be another surprise choice for the 50-year-old manager.

Martinez will announce his selection at 12:30 pm at a press conference at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras.

The quinas will face Liechtenstein on November 16 at 19:45 (Lisbon) in Vaduz, and three days later at the same time with Iceland at the José Alvalade stadium.

On October 16, in Zenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Portugal won the qualifying group for the European Football Championship for the fourth time in its history. This figure rises to eight when taking into account the qualifying stages of the final stages of the World Cup.

After defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina (5-0) in a match in which they had already entered the field with guaranteed qualification, the national team secured first place in Group J after eight rounds with two more to play, which earlier on the road to the Europeans me this succeeded only three times.

Portugal top the group with 24 points, eight more than second-place Slovakia, while Luxembourg is third with 11 points. Iceland is fourth with 10 points, ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina with nine and last-place Liechtenstein with no points.

The first two places in the group give direct access to the final phase of the next European Championship, which will be held in Germany.