Beijing time, March 22: Just now, a bad news hit the Portuguese national team. Pepe, the team's main centre-back who was selected for the squad this time, will not qualify for the play-off schedule because of the new crown infection. For the Portuguese national team, this is undoubtedly a huge blow. Because before that, the team's other main center-back, Ruben Dias, had no source in this squad due to a hamstring injury. The Portuguese national team itself is not understaffed in the personnel reserve of the center-back, and Díaz's absence is indeed a big blow.
But it turned out that they still had Pepe, an experienced veteran, sitting in town, but now Pepe can't get on. This is undoubtedly very difficult, and for the veteran coach Santos, his selection of personnel in the center-back position is beginning to be stretched. There are currently only three centre-backs left in Portugal's roster. They are 38-year-old Fonte and two post-00s youngsters. Fonte should occupy a main position, and as for the choice of another position, it is really too critical.
According to the old coach's previous employment habits, Thiago Jallow, born in 000, and Gonzalo, born in 01, these two people will not be used. In this crucial game, the old coach never dared to use the youngsters. Even if these young people have emerged, the old coach values the experience of the players more. In the past matches in Portugal, Pepe, although he is very old, he has been a stable main player of the team. Sometimes even if the physical fitness is not very good, Pepe will still appear in the starting list. Because the old coach Santos believes that the experience of the players in the big game is more important than his age. Physical weaknesses can be compensated for in other ways, but there is no substitute for the big picture and the experience of the pitch.
The injuries of Pepe and Díaz have made the Portuguese platoon arrangement clear this time, and for now, the old coach will continue the previous formation and withdraw DaniLopereira in midfield to make a cameo at the centre-back. Prior to this, Portugal had changed sides in this way many times. In this way, Portugal's midfield will also usher in improvements, Pereira's retreat is actually quite influential, Portugal's already weak running and defensive ability in the back will be infinitely magnified, which is easy to be targeted by opponents.
But for now they can only change this way, and Santos has not yet dared to use the boldness of young people. If the old coach Santos chooses to boldly use Inásio, born in 2001, in this kind of competition, he may have a miraculous effect. However, the schedule of this play-off is too dangerous, and the single-game net win-loss elimination system makes Portugal dare not take risks, and can only use people according to the convention. At this point, Portugal's formation in this play-off is already very clear, which will definitely be studied by teams such as Turkey and potential opponents Italy.
But there was no way, injuries as well as the new crown at this time relentlessly hit the Portuguese national team. The only good news is that Dani Lopereira has done well in his previous cameo at centre-back, having had a good effect in several games. There should be no problem playing at the centre back, but who will make up for it at the back is still a big problem. For Portugal's star Cristiano Ronaldo, the play-off schedule is very difficult to play.
This is also a key stage in his Devil's March fixtures, getting his ticket to the World Cup for his 5th time? Or is it that at the age of 37, he fell on the road to Qatar. These are all unknown and hopefully the Portuguese star will give us a wonderful performance.