OFFICIAL: Fernando Santos announces latest Portugal squad amid mini injury crisis
Portugal face two vital matches in their bid to qualify for the Euro 2020 finals.
Portugal already know that 1st place in the group is out of reach, Ukraine 7 points above Portugal in the table with 2 games still to be played.
It means that Portugal are guaranteed to not be in pot 1 of the competition if they do qualify, despite being reigning champions.
And there is further bad news for Portugal; even if they do qualify, they will last certainly have to settle for being in, at best, pot 3.
Wins over both Lithuania and Luxembourg is therefore vital for the Seleção, and would assure them of a place in the tournament proper regardless of results elsewhere.
Fernando Santos’ side is heavily depleted though, with injuries to important players all over the pitch. William Carvalho, instrumental to Portugal under the stewardship of Santos, is still absent through injury, while Atletico's start youngster João Felix is still recovering from a sprained ankle.
Gonçalo Guedes is out of action with the same injury, while Rafa Silva is out long-term after sustaining an injury in the Champions League vs Lyon.
Ferro also picked up a knock in the Champions League, but in the more recent match versus Lyon.
Andre Gomes is also out after a devastating injury versus Tottenham last week.
Here is the squad that Fernando Santos has selected:
Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (Wolves), Beto (Goztepe), Jose Sá (Olympiakos).
Defenders: Pepe (FC Porto), Ruben Dias (SL Benfica), Jose Fonte (Lille), Ruben Semedo (Olympiakos), Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City), Nelson Semedo (Barcelona), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Mario Rui (Napoli).
Midfielders: Danilo Pereira (FC Porto), Ruben Neves (Wolves), João Moutinho (Wolves), Pizzi (SL Benfica), João Mario (Lokomotiv Moscow), Bruno Fernandes (Sporting CP).
Forwards: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Bruma (PSV), Diogo Jota (Wolves), Daniel Podence (Olympiakos), Andre Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt), Eder (Lokomotiv Moscow), Gonçalo Paciencia (Eintracht Frankfurt).
