This Wednesday, soccer player Diogo Jota joined the Portuguese team for the first time, on the eve of his debut in Group 2 of the League of Nations A, against Spain, in Seville, and Rafael Leão worked with the ball on the sidelines.
Liverpool’s English striker should have gone to work at the Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras, on Mondayalong with goalkeeper Rui Patrício and defender Pepe, but only this Wednesday was he available for the Portuguese coach, Fernando Santos.
Full-back Rafael Leão, from AC Milan, who suffered a knock in training on Monday, having spent the next day recovering, was present at the session, but carried out exercises with the ball outside the group.
Of the group of 26 summoned, the only one who is not available is the midfielder Vítor Ferreira, for testing positive for Covid-19.
In addition, in the first 15 minutes open to journalists, the group was divided into two, for the usual warm-up exercises with and without the ball, except for the three goalkeepers, who did specific work near one of the goals.
Starting at 12:30 p.m., the Portuguese coach, Fernando Santos, and a player to be designated will advance the Thursday duel with the Spanishat a press conference.
First day of Group 2, against Spain, kicks off at 8:45 p.m. local time (7:45 p.m. in Lisbon), at the Benito Villamarín Stadium, in Sevilleand will be directed by Englishman Michael Oliver.
After facing the Spanish, the Portuguese will play twice at the Estádio José Alvalade, on Sunday, against Switzerland, and on June 9, against the Czech Republic, to play in Geneva on the 12th, in the second clash with the Swiss.
After these four games, the formation of the “quinas” completes the last two games on September 24 and 27, the first in the Czech Republic and the second in Braga, against the Spanish.
The team of “quinas”, winner of the first edition of the League of Nations, in 2019, needs to win the group to reach the “final four” of the third edition, the second being won by France, in a final with Spain, in 2021.
The Nations League final takes place from June 14 to 18, 2023with the winners of the four groups of League A, descending the last of each of the groups to League B.
Source: Observadora
