Portugal’s national team coach Roberto Martinez has announced the squad for the Portuguese national team’s international matches at the end of March. Cristiano Ronaldo is missing through injury.
The captain and superstar of the Portuguese national team is not part of the 27-man squad that Martinez called up on Friday for the friendly matches against the two World Cup hosts Mexico (March 28 in Mexico City) and the USA (March 31 in Atlanta).
The 41-year-old attacker will miss the two matches due to a muscle injury to his left thigh, which he sustained at his club Al-Nassr in the league match against Al-Fayha at the end of February. Since then, “CR7” has not played for his club either. However, the injury is not thought to be too serious. Martinez recently spoke of a minor injury that the veteran had sustained. On Friday, Martinez confirmed that he was firmly planning to play the country’s record goalscorer at the World Cup.
According to Martinez, “Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Ramos will share the center forward position” at the finals. In addition, a third striker with a different profile to the captain and the PSG attacker is to be nominated for the World Cup. There is no clear third center forward in the newly nominated squad, but players such as Cristiano Ronaldo’s team-mate Joao Felix or Milan attacker Rafael Leao could also be considered for a central position.
Martinez described the games in Mexico and the USA as “the last opportunity for experiments” before he wants to nominate his World Cup squad in May. West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes has been called up for the first time, while 18-year-old Porto youngster Rodrigo Mora has also been named for the second time and can now hope to make his first appearance for the senior national team.
Portugal will face Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K at the World Cup, with the third opponent to be determined in the intercontinental play-offs. New Caledonia, Jamaica and the Democratic Republic of Congo are all possible contenders.
Portugal’s squad at a glance:
Goal: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Rui Silva (Sporting Lisbon), José Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Defense: Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Joao Cancelo FC (Barcelona), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Nuno Mendes (Paris St. Germain), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon), Renato Veiga (FC Villarreal), Antonio Silva, Tomas Araujo (both Benfica Lisbon)
Midfield: Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Samu Costa (RCD Mallorca), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham United), Vitinha, Joao Neves (both Paris St. Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto), Pedro Goncalves (Sporting Lisbon)
Attack: Ricardo Horta (SC Braga), Pedro Neto (Chelsea FC), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus Turin), Trincao (Sporting Lisbon), Joao Felix (Al-Nassr), Goncalo Ramos (Paris St. Germain)
