two young talents join the group for the next match

In preparation for the match between Portugal and Croatia, two young Portuguese players have joined the Seleção.

Qualification for the quarter-finals of the Nations League is confirmed. By winning heavily on home soil against Poland this Friday evening (5-1), the Portuguese national team validated its first place in the group, and therefore its ticket for the next round.

A qualification which will allow Roberto Martinez to experiment with new strategies for the next meeting. As such, the Portuguese coach has decided to call up two young talents, who could therefore take advantage of the opportunity to make their big debut with the national team, this Monday evening in Croatia.

Three players rested for Croatia-Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto did their part. Starting in the large Portuguese victory in Porto this Friday evening against Poland, the three Portuguese internationals were authorized to return to their club earlier than their summoned compatriots. In fact, they will not participate in the next international meeting, scheduled for this Monday evening in Split, Croatia.

Three free places: enough to allow other players to express themselves. This is particularly the case of João Félix or Francisco Trincão, who entered the game this Friday evening, and who could benefit from more playing time over the coming hours. Other players who are much less accustomed to the Seleção could also do well.

Geovany Quenda and Fabio Silva summoned

For Geovany Quenda and Fabio Silva, the stakes will be very different. Aligned in the offensive sector this Friday with the hopes, during the draw between Portugal U21 and Ukraine, the two young Portuguese talents were called upon by Roberto Martinez to compensate for the absences of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto in the offensive sector.

The possible presence of the two young people summoned could well be one of the main attractions of this Croatia-Portugal with the clearly relative stakes. Indeed, if they were to set foot on the pitch at Stade Poljud this Monday evening, it would be a very first appearance in the national team for the two compatriots. It remains to be seen whether Roberto Martinez will agree to grant this favor to these players, who are asserting themselves as the future of the Portuguese national team.

Portugal’s group to face 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 Djalo (FC Porto)

Environments: João Neves (PSG), Otávio (Al Nassr), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), João Félix (Chelsea), Samu Costa (Mallorca)

Attackers: Rafael Leão (Milan), Francisco Trincão (Sporting), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Geovany Quenda (Sporting), Fabio Silva (Las Palmas)

Credit photo: Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images for DFB