Portugal faces Nigeria this Thursday, in what will be the only challenge to prepare for the 2022 World Cup, in Qatar, and will not be able to count on captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who is recovering from an upset stomach.
However, the duel with the African team, led by the Portuguese José Peseiro, could shed some ‘lights’ on how Portugal will align in the debut, with Ghana.
On Thursday, the Portuguese, led by Fernando Santos, will face a rival they have never faced and who has been led by Peseiro since May, precisely one week before the meeting with the Ghanaians, for group H of the 2022 World Cup, scheduled for November 24
The match, scheduled for the Estádio José Alvalade, could be clarifying the options of coach Fernando Santos, not only because he is the only one that the ‘quinas’ team will play before leaving for Qatar, but also because it is against an African rival , which could pose identical problems to those that the Portuguese team will face in its debut in the competition.
Against Nigeria, a team that will be absent from the World Cup, the coach will have a lot to choose from, since Ronaldo is expected to be the only one of the 26 players absent from the bench.
Even being forced to rotate players to manage the effort and avoid any physical setbacks so soon after the start of the main competition in world soccer, Santos should launch an eleven close to the one that will start with Ghana.
Portugal and Nigeria take to the pitch, starting at 6:45 p.m., at the Estádio José Alvalade, in Lisbon.
On Friday, the Portuguese delegation will leave for Qatar, with its debut in Group H of the 2022 World Cup scheduled for November 24, against Ghana, before facing Uruguay, on November 28, and South Korea, led by Paulo Bento. , on December 2.
The 22nd edition of the World Cup starts on Sunday, with the duel between the host Qatar and Ecuador, for group A, and ends on December 18.
Source: TSF
