Gonçalo Paciência gets Portugal call-up

Seleção coach Fernando Santos has announced the squad for the final two matches of Portugal’s Euro 2020 Group B qualifying campaign, against Lithuania and Luxembourg.

Gonçalo Paciência has been rewarded for his excellent form at his club side Eintracht Frankfurt and gets a debut call-up. There are also recalls for Diogo Jota and Euro 2016 final hero Eder. 

Portugal require two victories to make sure they finish second in the section and qualify automatically for the European Championship taking place next summer.

Given the calibre of the opposition, the Seleção will be confident of finishing the job, but Fernando Santos has warned it will not be straightforward.

“We have to be a dynamic and objective team against very defensive adversaries,” he said. “The strategy for these two matches? To win! The players are fully aware of what these two teams can do. We will focus 99% on our own game. We will be at Euro 2020.”

Despite exuding confidence, and perhaps in mind of the difficulties the Seleção often experience when trying to break down defensive teams, Santos has packed his squad with a range of attacking options, including three out-and-out strikers in Paciência, André Silva and Éder.

Portugal host Lithuania on Thursday 14 November at the Estádio do Algarve, before finishing their group matches in Luxembourg on Sunday 17 November.

 

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Beto (Goztepe), José Sá (Olympiakos), Rui Patrício (Wolves)

Defenders: Ricardo Pereira (Leicester), Nélson Semedo (Barcelona), José Fonte (Lille), Pepe (FC Porto), Rúben Dias (Benfica), Rúben Semedo (Olympiakos), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Mário Rui (Napoli)

Midfielders: Danilo Pereira (FC Porto), Rúben Neves (Wolves), Bruno Fernandes (Sporting), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), João Mário (Lokomotiv), João Moutinho (Wolves), Pizzi (Benfica) 

Forwards: Bruma (PSV), Daniele Podence (Olympiakos), Diogo Jota (Wolves), André Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Gonçalo Paciência (Eintracht Frankfurt), Éder (Lokomotiv)

By Tom Kundert