PORTUGAL
Portugal lay down Euro 2024 gauntlet as they sweep Sweden aside
Roberto Martinez allowed himself the luxury of resting a large part of the heavyweights of the Seleçao with the likes of Cristiano, João Félix, Vitinha or Rúben Neves not involved in the Sweden game.
Portugal are one of the most inform sides currently in Europe under manager Roberto Martínez. The Seleçao have won eleven consecutive games with a devastating balance of 41 goals and only four conceded with hopes high for the national side as Euro 2024 looms large on the horizon.
In Guimaraes on Thursday night, Martínez’s men thrashed Sweden (5-2) and did so with non-regular players with a high percentage of the team composed of Portugal U-21 players and for the next test against Slovenia (Tuesday 26th), the Spaniard is set to use the services of Cristiano Ronaldo, João Félix, Rúben Neves, Otávio, Vitinha, Danilo Pereira, Dalot and Cancelo, none of whom were involved in the Guimaraes game.
Expectations are starting to increase in Portugal ahead of the European Championship with the likes of: Soares (Benfica); Jota Silva (Vitória Guimaraes); Diego Leite (Union Berlin); Toti (Wolves); João Mário (Porto); João Neves (Benfica); Francisco Conceiçao (Porto) or Dany Mota (Monza) all relative newcomers to the full international scene in a Portugal shirt.
Portugal are pitted in Group F at Euro 2024 and will face Czech Republic, Turkey and the winner of the Georgia-Greece playoff match as rivals this summer in Germany and are starting to stake a claim as real contenders alongside France, England and Spain to lift the trophy in Berlin come mid-July.