This Friday, Roberto Martinez revealed the list of the Portugal national team to face Poland and Croatia in the Nations League.
Just a few weeks after the last international break, the Portugal national team is already back. Indeed, the Portuguese internationals called up this Friday by Roberto Martinez will successively face Poland and Croatia over the coming days, in the hope of validating first place in their group in the Nations League.
The Portugal group with 26 players
Unsurprisingly, Roberto Martinez revealed a group of 26 players this Friday at the start of the afternoon. As usual, the Portuguese coach has looked broadly, so as to see as many profiles as possible over the coming days, during which those summoned will be brought together.
Among the notable absentees from this list, we particularly note the young Geovany Quenda. Called up in the past, when he had just played his very first professional matches with Sporting, the 17-year-old winger was not chosen this time by Roberto Martinez, despite the good performances recently.
Portugal will also have to cope without some regulars, currently injured. This is particularly the case of Ruben Dias, Ruben Neves, Gonçalo Inacio and Diogo Jota, who should be able to return to the ranks of the Seleção from the start of 2025. For his part, Raphael Guerreiro was available to return his place in the group, but Roberto Martinez preferred to give a first opportunity to one of his competitors in the left lane.
Two big new features
Unlike the Bavarian full-back, Nuno Tavares will indeed be able to represent Portugal in the coming days. Author of an exceptional start to the season with Lazio, the left-back was rightly rewarded by Roberto Martinez, who clearly did not remain indifferent to the Portuguese's latest performances. “His summons is easy to understand. He has a physique and particular qualities. He has had a spectacular start to the season, he is a very interesting player for our selection”launched the coach.
If he could be required to take his first steps in the jersey of the national team, Nuno Tavares will not be the only one in this case. Returning to Portugal this summer to wear the colors of FC Porto, Tiago Djalo also benefited from a call-up. Requested twice in the past, when he played at LOSC, the 24-year-old player had not been called up for more than two years. “He is a very interesting central defender. We followed him to Lille, he had an injury, but he found form and he can be very important. Opportunities opened up following the physical problems of Gonçalo Inacio and the injury of Ruben Dias”justified Roberto Martinez. It remains to be seen whether Nuno Tavares and Tiago Djalo, who appear as the two big new additions to this list, will have an opportunity to express themselves in Portuguese colors.
Portugal's list to face Poland and Croatia
Guardians: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Rui Silva (Real Betis) and José Sá (Wolverhampton);
Defenders: João Cancelo (Al-Hilal), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Nélson Semedo (Wolverhampton), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Nuno Tavares (Lazio), Tomás Araújo (Benfica), António Silva (Benfica), Renato Veiga (Chelsea) , Tiago Djaló (FC Porto);
Environments: João Palhinha (Bayern Munich), João Neves (PSG), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Otávio (Al Nassr), Vitinha (PSG), Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City ), João Félix (Chelsea);
Attackers: Rafael Leão (Milan), Francisco Trincão (Sporting), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Pedro Neto (Chelsea) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr).
Photo credit: Rafal Oleksiewicz/Getty Images
Alexandre Ribeiro launched the Trivela.fr site in 2019 and today runs it alongside his colleagues. Passionate about Portuguese football as a whole, and in particular the Portuguese national team, it is with all his energy and involvement that he brings this media to life on a daily basis.
