Another blow for the Portugal defence on the road to the World Cup - and the match hasn't even started
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Reading Time: 1min | Tue. 22.03.22. | 00:20
Veteran Pepe is out with Covid
What can you do when you've got two crucial matches in a bid to reach the World Cup finals and your most experienced player can't play? We'll find out soon enough!
Veteran defender Pepe will miss Portugal's World Cup play-off semi-final against Turkey after testing positive for Covid-19, the Portuguese football federation announced on Monday.
Oh my word! Pepe is out of the World Cup playoff semi-final v Turkey on Thursday having tested positive for Covid-19. That means Portugal are without both first-choice centre-backs, Rúben Dias and Pepe. pic.twitter.com/4jNJyk9vwI
— Tom Kundert (@PortuGoal1) March 21, 2022
Coach Fernando Santos called up Lille centre-back Tiago Djalo, 21, to replace the 39-year-old Porto player, with the 2016 European champions also without injured Manchester City defender Ruben Dias.
Portugal play Turkey on Thursday in Porto and if they win next play either Italy or North Macedonia. Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates joined the national side's training camp at Oeiras, near Lisbon on Monday.
Portugal last failed to qualify for the World Cup in 1998, playing in each of the last five editions.
QATAR 2022 EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS
Play-off
Thursday
22.45: (2.15) Sweden (3.20) Czech R. (4.00)
22.45: (1.25) Italy (6.25) Macedonia (15.0)
22.45: (2.90) Wales (2.85) Austria (2.80)
22.45: (1.43) Portugal (4.70) Turkey (8.50)
***odds are subject to change
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