There was bad news for Seleção coach Fernando Santos today as it was confirmed Portugal’s first-choice left-back Fábio Coentrão will be unavailable for Euro 2016.
The Monaco defender requires surgery on a thigh muscle injury that he picked up in training and which will keep him out of action for a minimum of three months. It is a bitter blow for Coentrão, who had only recently returned to action after breaking a toe earlier this year.
Eliseu and Raphael Guerreiro are now likely to be named at Portugal’s left-backs for this summer’s tournament.
The Real Madrid owned full-back has been increasingly plagued by injuries, but it has not stopped him from impressing every time he pulls on a Portugal shirt.
Coentrão was magnificent at the 2010 World Cup and at Euro 2012, but his injury curse reared its ugly head at the 2014 World Cup as he was forced to return from Brazil early after getting hurt in the Seleção’s opening match against Germany.
Since then the 28-year-old has only played sporadically for the national team as he has struggled with fitness.
Likely replacements
In his absence the preferred choice at left-back for Portugal has been the experienced Eliseu. Despite often being given a hard time by Seleção fans, the experienced Benfica defender has enjoyed an excellent domestic season and Coentrão’s absence means he will almost certainly be Santos’s number one choice at left-back in France.
Coentrão’s misfortune also boosts the chances of another France-based full-back, Raphael Guerreiro, of making the squad. The Lorient defender has done well in a handful of caps for Portugal, with many critics calling for the 22-year-old to start over Eliseu.
All competing nations at Euro 2016 must officially announce their squads by 1 June.
By Tom Kundert
