Lisbon (Portugal) [India], March 21 (HBTV): Cristiano Ronaldo missed out due to a muscle injury, while Bernardo Silva was also excluded as Portugal manager Roberto Martínez announced the squad for pre-FIFA World Cup friendlies on Friday.
The coach clarified that Ronaldo’s absence was due to a ‘minor muscle injury’, while Silva’s omission was described as a ‘technical decision’.
Portugal will face Mexico national football team on March 28 at Azteca Banorte Stadium and take on the United States men's national soccer team on March 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
According to a team statement, ‘The national team will begin training in Mexico next Tuesday, with the team gathering on Monday.’
During the World Cup, Portugal has been placed in Group K alongside Uzbekistan, Colombia, and a qualifier team. They will begin their campaign against the qualifier team from June 17 onwards in Houston.
Speaking about Ronaldo’s omission, Martínez said, ‘The World Cup is not at risk. He is not at risk. It is a minor muscle injury, and we think he can return in a week or two. Everything Cristiano has done physically during the season shows that he is in great shape.’
On Silva, he added, ‘Bernardo Silva, it is a technical decision, based on the medical information that the player’s club provided.’
The squad announced by Martínez includes Diogo Costa, José Sá, and Rui Silva as goalkeepers. The defensive lineup features Matheus Nunes, Diogo Dalot, João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Gonçalo Inácio, Renato Veiga, António Silva, and Tomás Araújo.
Midfielders named in the squad are Rúben Neves, Samu Costa, Mateus Fernandes, João Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, and Rodrigo Mora.
The forward line includes Ricardo Horta, Pedro Gonçalves, João Félix, Francisco Trincão, Francisco Conceição, Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, Gonçalo Guedes, and Gonçalo Ramos.
(ANI)