A record-chasing Cristiano Ronaldo received’t be the one attraction for Portugal when it tries to win a second straight European Championship title.
Ronaldo will try to develop into the all-time main scorer with a nationwide staff, however this time there might be much more to watch for in Portugal’s squad.
The defending champions are bringing one their most gifted groups in years to Euro 2020, loaded with gamers who can assist Ronaldo and make Portugal a contender once more.
The expertise pool is arguably higher than it was 5 years in the past in France, when Portugal received the title with a squad that succeeded with effectivity reasonably than extraordinary play. The Portuguese earned the trophy with just one victory in 90 minutes throughout your complete event.
At Euro 2020, Portugal will play in a troublesome Group F that additionally contains Germany, France and Hungary. Both Germany and Hungary can have residence video games towards Portugal within the group stage.
“I have great confidence in my players and I have the conviction that Portugal is a title candidate,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos stated.
The 36-year-old Ronaldo might be backed this time by the likes of João Félix, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Rúben Dias and Diogo Jota.
Many of these gamers might be in place to thrive largely due to the event’s postponement brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Jota was a Wolverhampton participant who hadn’t performed a lot for his nation final yr however is now a daily for Liverpool and his nationwide staff, scoring six objectives in 12 worldwide video games. Rúben Dias has improved after his first season at Manchester City, whereas Fernandes has established himself as considered one of Manchester United’s prime playmakers. João Félix earned an additional yr of expertise with an Atlético Madrid staff that thrived within the Spanish league.
Also included within the Euro 2020 squad was 22-year-old ahead Pedro Gonçalves, who has by no means performed for the senior nationwide staff. Gonçalves was key in serving to Sporting Lisbon win its first Portuguese league title since 2002.
“The list is not the result of an analysis of two or three days,” Santos stated. “If I called up these players, it’s because they all have great quality.”
There might have been much more expertise in Portugal’s squad had teen Pedro Neto not been dominated out due to a knee damage. He was the most effective gamers for Wolverhampton in his first yr as a daily starter and in addition had established himself in Portugal’s squad.
Dias and Silva, one other key participant for English champion Man City, are among the gamers who might be coming back from the 2018 World Cup squad that was eradicated by Uruguay within the spherical of 16.
The protection once more might be led by 38-year-old Pepe, probably the most useful participant within the Euro 2016 last, when Portugal defeated host France.
Ronaldo might be taking part in in his fifth straight European Championship and might be trying to add one more report to his identify. He is six objectives from tying the all-time scoring report for a males’s nationwide staff. The report of 109 objectives is held by former Iran striker Ali Daei, the one different male soccer participant to surpass the 100-goal milestone.
Ronaldo scored 4 objectives within the 2018 World Cup and three at Euro 2016. He performed lower than half an hour within the last towards France 5 years in the past as a result of he obtained injured.
The Juventus ahead has scored for Portugal in each calendar yr since his first worldwide objective in 2004.
EURO 2020: PORTUGAL FACTFILE
Previous Euro performances: Seven participations, winners 2016
Honours: European Championship winners 2016; UEFA Nations League winners 2019, third at 1966 World Cup
FIFA rating: fifth
Nickname: A Selecao
Coach: Fernando Santos
Star gamers: Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias
Main golf equipment: Benfica, Porto, Sporting Lisbon
How did they qualify: Second in Group B behind Ukraine
EURO 2020 FIXTURES
vs Hungary – June 15, 9:30 pm
vs Germany – June 19, 9:30 pm
vs France – June 24, 12:30 am
26-MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (Wolverhampton Wanderers/ENG), Anthony Lopes (Lyon/FRA), Rui Silva (Granada/ESP)
Defenders: Joao Cancelo (Manchester City/ENG), Nelson Semedo (Wolverhampton Wanderers/ENG), Jose Fonte (Lille/FRA), Ruben Dias (Manchester City/ENG), Pepe (FC Porto), Nuno Mendes (Sporting Lisbon), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund/GER)
Midfielders: Danilo Pereira (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Joao Palhinha (Sporting Lisbon), Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho (each Wolverhampton Wanderers/ENG), Renato Sanches (Lille/FRA), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/ENG), Sergio Oliveira (FC Porto), William Carvalho (Real Betis/ESP), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/ENG)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/ITA), Diogo Jota (Liverpool/ENG), Rafa Silva (Benfica), Andre Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Goncalo Guedes (Valencia/ESP), Pedro Goncalves (Sporting Lisbon)
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