How Portugal could line up against Sweden

sportsmole.co.uk, 19 March 2024, 11:34

Cristiano Ronaldo will not be involved in Portugal's international friendly encounter with Sweden at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques in Guimaraes on Thursday.

The 39-year-old is one of eight players along with Joao Cancelo, Diogo Dalot, Danilo Pereira, Ruben Neves, Vitinha, Otavio and Joao Felix who have been given an extra period of recovery by manager Roberto Martinez - all eight players will return for next Tuesday's meeting with Slovenia, though.

The absence of Ronaldo and Felix could therefore open the door for Rafael Leao and Goncalo Ramos to start in attack, while Porto's Francisco Conceicao and Vitoria de Guimaraes's Jota Silva, who have received their first senior call-ups, are also in contention to feature.

Bernardo Silva is an option to start on the right side of attack if he is not deployed in midfield, while Bruno Fernandes and Joao Palhinha both featured regularly in Euro 2024 qualifying and could be selected again in midfield; highly-rated Benfica star Joao Neves is also in contention for a start.

At the ripe old age of 41, Porto stalwart Pepe will be looking to earn his 135th international cap in the heart of the defence alongside either Ruben Dias or Antonio Silva, while one-cap Toti Gomes and uncapped Diogo Leite are two other central defensive options at Martinez's disposal.

Nelson Semedo, Raphael Guerreiro and Nuno Mendes are among the candidates to start at full-back in the absence of Cancelo and Dalot, while Diogo Costa could retain his place between the sticks ahead of 107-cap Rui Patricio, who has not started any of Portugal's last eight matches.

Portugal possible starting lineup: Costa; Semedo, Dias, Pepe, Guerreiro; Fernandes, Palhinha, J. Neves; Bernardo, Ramos, Leao

Read full version: https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/sweden/predicted-lineups/how-portugal-could-line-up-against-sweden_539293.html

Afonso
Antonio Silva
Benfica
Bernard
Bernardo
Bernardo Silva
Bruno
Bruno Fernandes
Cristiano Ronaldo
Danilo
Danilo Pereira
Diogo Costa
Diogo Dalot
Diogo Leite
Felix
Fernandes
Franci
Francis
Francisco
Francisco Conceicao
Goncalo Ramos
Guima
Guimaraes
Henrique
Inter
Joao Cancelo
Joao Felix
Joao Neves
Joao Palhinha
Jota Silva
Martinez
Nelson Semedo
Neves
Nuno Mendes
Otavio
Pepe
Pere
Pereira
Play
Porto
Portugal
Portugal - Sweden
Portugal vs Sweden
Rafa
Rafael
Rafael Leao
Ramos
Raphael Guerreiro
Robert
Roberto
Roberto Martinez
Ronaldo
Ruben Dias
Ruben Neves
Rui Patricio
Silva
Slovenia
Sweden
Sweden at the
Toti Gomes
Viti
Vitinha
Vitoria
Vitoria de Guimaraes

Top News

24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich director of sport Max Eberl has branded Leon Goretzka "an important part of the team", with the German giants working to keep hold of the central midfielder. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Closing out this gameweek 12's Premier League action, Newcastle United and West Ham United vie for three precious points at St James' Park on Monday evening. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid returned to second spot in the La Liga table and moved to within four points of the leaders Barcelona courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Leganes in Sunday night's clash at Estadio Municipal de Butarque. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Leeds have reached the Championship summit after winning 4-3 away to Swansea in an enthralling encounter. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester United's new era under Ruben Amorim got off to the perfect start - before it ended in familiar fashion at Ipswich. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Trent Alexander-Arnold is a major doubt for Liverpool's blockbuster Champions League clash against Real Madrid this week. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester United's new era under Ruben Amorim got off to the perfect start with a goal inside two minutes against Ipswich. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has joined an exclusive Premier League managers' club thanks to the Reds' thrilling 3-2 fightback win over Southampton at St Mary's. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City are reportedly interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson in January. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Southampton have topped the standings in an unwelcome statistic after sloppily conceding at home to Liverpool. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Leicester City have announced they have parted company with manager Steve Cooper. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Arne Slot has continued his flying start to life in Liverpool after beating Southampton 3-2 at St Mary's Stadium. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian further extended his record-breaking season in the Brasileiro as Palmeiras defeated Atletico Goianiense on Saturday night. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool passed one of the most difficult examinations of their Premier League title credentials yet as they fought back from a goal down to triumph 3-2 over a spirited Southampton side at St Mary's. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City have announced the departure of manager Steve Cooper, with the 44-year-old being sacked off the back of Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly stepping up their attempts to sign Lille attacker Angel Gomes, with the North London club potentially getting a deal done during the January transfer window. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Manchester City will reportedly go head-to-head for the signature of Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres during next summer's transfer window. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney is preparing a move for a young Liverpool striker who is the son of an ex-Birmingham City star. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk From dark horses to genuine contenders for the Serie A crown, Atalanta BC now hope to enhance their Champions League credentials on Tuesday, when they visit BSC Young Boys. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are once again expected to be without the services of Lamine Yamal for Tuesday's Champions League contest with Brest, as the 17-year-old continues to battle an ankle problem. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aberdeen, looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, will travel to the Easter Road Stadium on Tuesday to take on basement dwellers Hibernian. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be aiming to record their fourth Champions League victory of the campaign when they welcome French outfit Brest to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Tuesday night. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Malang Sarr's time at Chelsea was largely forgettable. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Kyle Walker has been offered a harsh reminder his career at the top level may be over after a tough game against former employers Tottenham. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On the back of contrasting results on the fourth matchday of the 2024-25 Champions League, Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg cross paths on Tuesday evening in their latest European affair. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney admits he'd like to partake in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, but an appearance isn't imminent. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich remain without the services of Joao Palhinha for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, which could mean a start in central midfield for Leon Goretzka. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain will welcome Marquinhos back into their side for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Jamie O'Hara had plenty to say after Tottenham Hotspur's rampant 4-0 win at Manchester City. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Chelsea defender Malang Sarr has admitted that he was affected by comments made by Mauricio Pochettino during his time at Stamford Bridge.

How Portugal could line up against Sweden

Top News

Top Matches