Ronaldo likely to be included as Portugal target Euro 2020 finals

Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Portugal

Portugal would face Lithuania and Luxembourg in the Euro-2020 qualifier amid speculation of injury concern of their maverick captain Cristino Ronaldo. Previously Ronaldo was  

Cristiano Ronaldo Availability

On Sunday, Cristiano Ronaldo started Juventus’ win over AC Milan (1-0) in the Italian league but was substituted by Juventus Manager, Maurizio Sarri after just 55 minutes during 1-0 win against Milan on Sunday. 

Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up about the whole episode leaving Juventus’ game against Milan early but will avoid a fine.

“A difficult game, an important win!” he mentioned on Instagram, with the hashtag #FinoAllaFine, and without any mention about the incident.

Winner Eder Included

Eder, whose goal won Portugal Euro 2016, on Thursday earned a recall to his country’s squad for their upcoming qualifiers for Euro-2020 finals, against Lithuania and Luxembourg.

The 31-year-old Lokomotiv Moscow forward returns as part of a 25-man squad named by coach Fernando Santos.

Eder’s last appeared for his country about a year ago, but he is included considering his strong performance in Russia, where he has scored four goals in nine league games.

Other Changes in Squad

FC Porto’s Pepe and FC Barcelona’s Nelson Semedo were part of the Portuguese national team’s initial elected squad. Still, both were replaced by Granada’s rookie Domingos Duarte and Manchester City’s João Cancelo due to injury for their games with Lithuania at Estádio Algarve on Thursday and Luxembourg on Sunday.

Portugal are without Andre Gomes, who suffered a horrific leg injury playing for Everton at the weekend, while teenage star Joao Felix and Goncalo Guedes are also sidelined. Uncapped forward, Diogo Jota is one of four Wolves players selected by the UEFA Nations League winners.

Portugal are second in their group but just one point ahead of Serbia following a 2-1 loss to leaders Ukraine in Kiev last month. They host Lithuania, the bottom side in Group B, in the Algarve on Nov.14 before making the trip to Luxembourg three days later.

Also Read: What happened to the club jersey No. 7, which Ronaldo left

Portugal Squad

Goalkeepers: 

Rui Patricio (Wolves – England)

Beto (Goztepe – Turkey),

Jose Sa (Olympiakos – Greece)

Defenders: 

Ricardo Pereira (Leicester – England)

Domingos Duarte (Granada – Spain)

Jose Fonte (Lille – France)

João Cancelo (Manchester City – England)

Ruben Dias (Benfica – Portugal)

Ruben Semedo (Olympiakos – Greece)

Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund – Germany)

Mario Rui (Napoli – Italy)

Midfielders: 

Danilo Pereira (FC Porto – Portugal),

Ruben Neves (Wolves – England),

Bruno Fernandes (Sporting Lisbon – Portugal),

Bernardo Silva (Manchester City – England),

Joao Mario (Lokomotiv Moscow – Russia),

Joao Moutinho (Wolves – England),

Pizzi (Benfica – Portugal)

Forwards: 

Bruma (PSV Eindhoven – Nederlands)

Daniel Podence (Olympiakos – Greece)

Diogo Jota (Wolves – England)

Andre Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt – Germany)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus – Italy)

Goncalo Paciencia (Eintracht Frankfurt – Germany)

Eder (Lokomotiv Moscow – Russia)