The Portuguese team begins preparing today for friendlies against Mexico and the United States, thinking about the final phase of the World Cup, with a new look, some returns and also many absences.
Portugal has a training scheduled for 6pm, at Cidade do Futebolin Oeiras, with the first 15 minutes open to the media. Before, at 5pm, in the same location, a player yet to be named will speak to journalists at a press conference.
A Last minute ‘surprise’ was Paulinho’s return, who has not played for the national team since 2020 and which was called after the dismissals of Rodrigo Mora and Rafael Leãowho left the initial squad due to injury.
The 33-year-old striker, who plays for Toluca, in Mexico, was, for the first time, called by Roberto Martinez. He has three caps and two goals for the national team, all achieved in 2020.
As he plays in the Mexican championship, the former Sporting and Sporting de Braga player joins the Portuguese delegation in Cancún, where Portugal will be interning from Tuesday.
Unprecedented absence since 2018
Mateus Fernandes, West Ham midfielder, was called up for the first time by coach Roberto Martínezin a squad marked by the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, injured, something that hasn’t happened since 2018.
Tomás Araujo, Samu Costa, Ricardo Horta and Gonçalo Guedes are backthe latter for the first time during the Martínez ‘era’.
Among the absences, in addition to Ronaldo, Ruben Dias and Nelson Semedo are also injuredwhile Bernardo Silva, sub-captain of the Portuguese national team, was also left out despite being in action with Manchester City over the weekend in the English League Cup final.
Among the 26 names called for now by Martínez, Pedro Gonçalves was injured on Sunday from Sporting’s match in the I Liga, while Francisco Trincão also left injured from the visit to Alverca and goalkeeper Diogo Costa, from FC Porto and owner of the Portuguese goal, admitted physical limitations after his team’s triumph in Braga.
Portugal will reopen Azteca Stadium
Portugal has meeting scheduled with Mexico on March 28in Mexico City, at the reopening of the Azteca Stadium, and then the United States, on 31, in Atlanta.
No which will take place from June 11th to July 19th in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Portugal is integrated into Group Kalong with Uzbekistan, Colombia and an opponent yet to be defined, who will emerge from the intercontinental play-off between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jamaica and New Caledonia.
