Coach Roberto Martinez has explained the decision to summon players who are on the downward slope of their careers like Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe to prepare for Euro 2024.
Tonight (May 21), the Portuguese national team officially announced the preliminary squad of 26 players who will prepare for Euro 2024 taking place this summer. Looking at the aforementioned list, fans are hopeful once again to witness top-notch performances from veteran stars in the "Selecao Europe" lineup, and that means none other than Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe.
[caption id="attachment_5349" align="alignnone" width="480"] Preliminary squad list of the Portuguese national team preparing for Euro 2024. Image: 433[/caption]
With his participation in this summer's Euro, Ronaldo has officially broken his own record to become the player with the most appearances, totaling 6 times. The superstar from Al Nassr has played a total of 25 matches in the previous 5 Euro tournaments and scored 14 goals, making him the top scorer in this prestigious competition.
Despite turning 39, Ronaldo continues to demonstrate his ability to perform at the highest level, having scored an impressive 42 goals in 41 appearances for Al Nassr this season. This is the reason why coach Roberto Martinez couldn't overlook this superstar in the Portuguese national team squad.
[caption id="attachment_5348" align="alignnone" width="600"] Ronaldo is still shining bright in the colors of Al Nassr. Image: Getty[/caption]
Explaining the rationale behind Ronaldo's call-up, the Spanish strategist shared: "Ronaldo, huh? Better to talk numbers. He has scored 42 goals in 41 matches for his club. That's evidence of his stability and enduring physical prowess, alongside his finishing skills in front of goal which we really admire and need."
Meanwhile, despite being 41 years old, Pepe remains a priority for Martinez, occupying a central defensive role in the national team. Reflecting on Pepe, the former Belgium coach added: "Pepe's role in the dressing room is very important, how he represents the national team shirt. I think during training, football is a continuous battle. It's interesting to see Pepe play two matches in March and keep a clean sheet for the full 90 minutes he was on the pitch. His communication skills, positioning choices show that when fit, Pepe is a very important player."
[caption id="attachment_5347" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pepe remains the top priority for the Portuguese national team. Image: Getty[/caption]
With the presence of these two seasoned stars along with other top players in the lineup, the Portuguese national team is expected to emerge as a strong contender for the championship and possibly dominate in Europe once again after 8 years.
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