Spaniard Roberto Martinez, Portugal’s new coach, said it was important to call up Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of the Saudi victory, to the squad during the upcoming international break.
The Portugal national team is preparing to play two matches against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg on March 23 and 26 as part of the qualifying tournament for the European Football Championship 2024, which will be hosted by Germany.
Today, Friday, Martinez announced Portugal’s roster, which included veteran duo Cristiano Ronaldo (38) and defender Pepe (40), despite some reports confirming the end of the Madeira Rocket’s international trip after a setback. win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Portuguese star took part in 5 matches, most of them as a substitute at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, during which he scored one goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded as his country’s historic scorer in international matches, with 118 goals scored in 196 matches, and is the highest ever goal scored by any player at national team level and ever.
Martinez said in statements covered by Britain’s Manchester Evening News: “I don’t care about age at all and Ronaldo is a supremely hard-working and dedicated player and his presence in the Portugal national team is very important. .”
The Spaniard added: “It is assumed that Cristiano will be on the list as he has been an important element of the national team for 19 years and certainly deserves respect and appreciation.”
He continued: “My goal is to form a good group of players to qualify for the European Championship and challenge for the title.”
Roberto Martinez concluded his speech by saying: “I will start working in the coming days and get to know the players led by Cristiano Ronaldo.”
The Portuguese Football Association has announced the appointment of Martínez as national team coach until 2026 to replace veteran Fernando Santos, who was sacked after being eliminated from the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-finals.
The appointment of the Spaniard Martinez came after his departure from the post of coach of the Belgian national team, who failed to overcome the group stage barrier of the tournament, which the Argentine national team crowned for the first time since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Here is the composition of Portugal:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves, England), Rui Patricio (Roma, Italy).
Behind the line: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United, England), Joao Cancelo (Bayern), Nuno Mendes and Danilo Pereira (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Pepe (Porto), Robin Diaz ( Manchester City”), Antonio Silva. (Benfica), Gonzalo Inacio (Sporting), Diogo Leite (Union Berlin, Germany), Rafael Guerrero (Borussia Dortmund, Germany).
Midfielders: Joao Balleña (Fulham), Robin Neves (Wolverhampton, England), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Mario (Benfica), Mateus Nunic (“Wolverhampton”), Ottavio Montero (“Porto”). Vitenia (Paris Saint-Germain)
In the offensive line: Cristiano Ronaldo (victory of Saudi Arabia), Gonzalo Ramos (Benfica), Joao Felix (Chelsea, England), Rafael Leao (Milan, Italy) and Diogo Jota (Liverpool, England).
Source: agencies