Portugal fans on X have been left divided after Roberto Martinez excluded Cristiano Ronaldo’s teammate, Rafael Leao, from the starting XI to face Germany. The two sides are set to lock horns in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals at the Allianz Arena later tonight (Wednesday, June 4).
Diogo Costa starts in goal for Portugal. Joao Neves, Ruben Dias, Goncalo Inacio, and Nuno Mendes make up the defense. The midfield comprises of Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, Bruno Fernandes, and Francisco Trincao. Cristiano Ronaldo starts up front to complete the starting XI.
Rafael Leao had a decent campaign for AC Milan this season, scoring 12 goals and providing 13 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions. The 25-year-old winger has also been a regular in Portugal’s starting XI under Martinez’s tutelage. He started seven out of A Selecao‘s eight Nations League fixtures but was unable to make much of an impact, recording one goal and two assists.
One fan questioned Leao’s omission from the starting XI:
One fan believes Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. can now defeat Germany, posting:
Other fans reacted below:
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann recently hailed Cristiano Ronaldo for his consistency, impact, and longevity throughout his storied career. He also admitted his side would need to be wary of Ronaldo’s aerial ability inside the box ahead of their Nations League semi-final clash.
During the pre-match press conference, Nagelsmann stated (via @TheNassrZone on X):
Cristiano Ronaldo has established himself as arguably the greatest international player of all time. The 40-year-old is currently the most-capped player in the men’s game (219), recording the most international goals (136) and 46 assists across all competitions. He has also helped Portugal win Euro 2016 and the 2019 UEFA Nations League.
Silas is a Liverpool supporter through and through and admires everything about the club – it’s history, culture, style of play, and all of its iconic players and managers. His favorite player is Steven Gerrard, who was also one of the primary reasons to get interested in football and support Liverpool.
Unsurprisingly, his favorite manager is Jurgen Klopp, who transformed the Reds from a mid-table club to Premier League champions. Liverpool’s fourth goal in their 4-0 win over Barcelona, scored by Divock Origi after the iconic ‘corner taken quickly’ moment from Trent Alexander-Arnold, holds a special place in Silas’ heart.
Apart from Europe’s top five leagues, he also follows Major League Soccer and the Saudi Pro League. When not writing, he indulges in reading, traveling, fitness and gaming.
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