After claiming maximum points in September, League A Group 1 pace-setters Portugal will be aiming to maintain their 100% record in this season’s UEFA Nations League when meeting Poland on Saturday.
It remains to be seen whether head coach Roberto Martinez restores his star player to the Selecao’s starting lineup, as Cristiano Ronaldo was benched against Scotland last time out, before coming off the bench to spectacular effect.
His impact – most notably scoring a late winner at Hampden – bolstered the 39-year-old’s claims for selection ahead of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, while Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos is currently out of the picture.
Either would most likely link up with AC Milan winger Rafael Leao in the final third, while Chelsea pair Pedro Neto and Joao Felix lead the queue to join them. Juventus new boy Francisco Conceicao is another contender, having missed out through injury last month.
Martinez has selected four uncapped players – Farense goalkeeper Ricardo Velho, Mallorca midfielder Samu Costa, Benfica’s Tomas Araujo and another Chelsea man, Renato Veiga – but none are expected to start this weekend.
Meanwhile, Sporting Lisbon trio Goncalo Inacio, Geovany Quenda and Pedro Goncalves are all sidelined by injury, and reserve goalkeeper Jose Sa has been dropped.
Once again, Porto stopper Diogo Costa should start between the posts, behind a defence featuring centre-back pair Ruben Dias and Andre Silva; Nuno Mendes should claim the left-back berth, while Nelson Semedo and Diogo Dalot fight it out for selection on the right.
Due to Joao Palhinha’s lack of action at Bayern Munich, Vitinha may be preferred alongside Manchester-based duo Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes in midfield.
Portugal possible starting lineup: Costa; Dalot, Dias, A. Silva, Mendes; B. Silva, Vitinha, Fernandes; Neto, Ronaldo, Leao
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Publish date : 2024-10-10 06:01:00
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