National Team: The ‘announced’ return, the expected debut and the complete surprise

National coach surprised completely by announcing the call of Brazilian striker Dyego Sousa.

[dropcap type=”default”]F[/dropcap]ernando Santos announced this Friday the list of squad for qualifying the Euro’2020. If on the one hand the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been absent from the summons since the World Cup was expected, there were two ‘surprises’ in the list released by the national coach.

If João Félix, for his meteoric rise in Benfica, was already expected, the call of the Brazilian Dyego Sousa, Sporting de Braga, arrived, in a way, as a complete surprise – despite being the best scorer of the I Liga.

[Dyego Sousa] Fulfills all the natural requirements for this: Quality is not the only deciding factor, if there were not 40 or 50 players, we have to prepare ourselves with all the weapons because we want to revalidate the title, “explained Santos at a press conference.

In a list with more attacking options than normal, the advanced of the minhotos will have to play a place in the center of the attack with André Silva, habitual ‘occupant’ of the spearhead space.

Also notable for the fact that only three central defenders, Pepe, Rúben Dias, and José Fonte, with Bruno Alves, currently representing Parma, have been called to lose ground in the Portuguese national team.

In the midfield, Danilo Pereira, who missed the World Cup in Russia due to injury, also returns in a list that includes Rúben Neves, a player who has been in full service with Wolverhampton of Nuno Espírito Santo, such as Diogo Jota, who also took place in the call. Renato Sanches, Bayern Munich midfielder, was out of the options for meetings with Ukraine and Serbia.

Finally, to mention also the debut of José Sá in the options of Fernando Santos, this after Anthony Lopes, usually summoned, to have asked not to be called back.

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício, Beto and José Sá;

Defenses: João Cancelo, Nélson Semedo, Pepe, Rúben Dias, José Fonte, Raphael Guerreiro and Mário Rui;

Mediums: William, Danilo, Reuben Neves, João Moutinho, Pizzi, João Mário and Bruno Fernandes;

Forward: Bernardo Silva, Gonçalo Guedes, Diogo Jota, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafa, André Silva, João Félix and Dyego Sousa.