Portugal’s European Championship hero dropped from squad
Portugal is going to the Confederations Cup without Eder, its goal-scoring hero in the final of the European Championship, and rising star Renato Sanches.
Coach Fernando Santos left the pair off his 24-man squad yesterday for a friendly against Cyprus, a World Cup qualifier against Latvia, and the Confederations Cup in Russia next month.
Eder and Sanches were the conspicuous absences in the squad that will be led by Cristiano Ronaldo. and Danny Welbeck.
"I’ve showed that, by selecting Jermain Defoe at 34, if players are playing well and the moment’s right then we will involve them in the squad," Southgate said.
"You never write off a player of Wayne’s quality, and I’m sure that next season he’ll be back to playing. He’s finished the season a bit better and I’m sure he’ll take that into next year."
Rooney’s comeback hopes rest on his future club plans, and starting afresh. He said on Thursday he’s
A year ago, Eder, a substitute, scored in extra time to give his team a 1-0 win over France and the European title.
Young midfielder Sanches was talked about at that tournament as a possible heir to Ronaldo and subsequently earned a high-profile transfer from Benfica to Bayern Munich, where he hasn’t featured regularly. Sanches was instead included in the Portugal Under-21s.
Portugal hosts Cyprus on June 3 and plays at Latvia in a World Cup qualifier on June 9. Four "more or less" decided whether to stay or leave United but wasn’t willing to reveal it.
He said he’s had lots of options, including overseas, and won’t play for another team in the Premier League apart from boyhood club Everton. United want him to stay, and he said he understands, with some frustration, his diminished role in the team.
The 19-year-old Rashford, who started for United in the Europa League final, will not now go to the European Under-21 Championship, while Kane, the Premier League’s days later, Portugal travels to Russia where it plays its first Confederations Cup game against Mexico on June 18. The Portuguese will also meet Russia and New Zealand in the group stage.
Portugal:
Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon), Beto (Sporting), Jose Sa (FC Porto)
Defenders: Bruno Alves (Cagliari), Cedric Soares (Southampton), Eliseu (Benfica), Nelson Semedo (Benfica), Jose Fonte (West Ham), Luis Neto (Zenit St. Petersburg), Pepe (Real Madrid), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielders: Adrien Silva (Sporting), Andre Gomes (Barcelona), Danilo Pereira (FC Porto), Joao Mario (Inter Milan), Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Pizzi (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting Lisbon)
Forwards: Andre Silva (FC Porto), Bernardo Silva (Monaco), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Gelson Martins (Sporting Lisbon), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Nani (Valencia)