Portugal tries to win against powerful Spain in the debut of the League of Nations – Observer
Portugal will seek this Thursday, in Seville, to make its debut with a triumph in Group 2 of the Football League of Nations, against Spain, finalist in the last edition, which will, theoretically, be the most complicated challenge.
In a true ‘marathon’ of four games in just 11 days, the ‘quinas’ team will have, at Benito Villamarín Stadium, most likely, the most arduous test of the entire group stage, along with the last match of the pouleagain against the Spaniards, but in Braga, on 27 September.
This Iberian duel could even be crucial to ‘grab’ the first position of the groupone that gives access to last four of the competition, whose first edition was won by the Portuguese, in Porto, in 2019, in a final against the Netherlands.
With many meetings in a short time, or Portuguese, Fernando Santos, has already said that he will rotate the space from game to game. However, the ‘eleven’ to present this Thursday will be the one that gives him more guarantees.
Guarantee picker rotation in the “Clearly of Nations” League calendar
Fernando Santos should bet on Diogo Costa for goal, behind a defensive quartet formed by João Cancelo, Pepe, Danilo and Raphaël Guerreiro.
João Moutinho, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva should compose the midfield, while Otávio and Diogo Jota, or Rafael Leão, can accompany ‘captain’ Cristiano Ronaldo in attack.
Three athletes out of the 26 called up will be left out of the first round, as only 23 can be listed on the game sheet, and Vítor Ferreira will be one of them, since he is infected with the coronavirus.
The Group 2 matchday one match against Spain has start scheduled for 20:45 local time (19:45 in Lisbon)at Benito Villamarín Stadium, in Seville, and will be directed by Englishman Michael Oliver.
After facing the Spaniards, they play twice at Estádio José Alvalade, on Sunday, against Switzerland, and on June 9, against the Czech Republic, to, on the 12th, play several times, in the clash with the Swiss.
After these four games, República das ‘quinas’ fulfilled and the last two meetings on September 27, the first in the Czech Republic and the second in Braga, against the Spaniards.
The finals of the League of Nations takes place from 14 to 18 June 2023, with the winners of the four groups of League A, with the last ones of each of the groups going down to League B.