This fixture brings back the sad memories of the 2012 World Cup qualifiers when the Russians beat Portugal 1-0 at home in Moscow to qualify for the World Cup under renowned Italian manager Fabio Capello. Even after the resignation of Capello, Russia still has a strong and promising team under the new coach Leonid Slutsky. Thanks to his leadership, the Sbornaya have booked an early spot at the Euro 2016 in France next summer after a four-match winning run.
Meanwhile, Portugal’s coach Fernando Santos has left out star player Cristiano Ronaldo out of the 23-man squad that will face their Russian counterparts. The Real Madrid forward has been rested ahead of their last Euro 2016 qualifier match against Serbia, although the southern European country is already assured of finishing top of Group I.
Missing in action: Ronaldo to be rested in Portugal's fixture against Russia
Speaking to the media regarding his critics who questioned Ronaldo’s omission from the squad, a visibly-irritated Santos explained:
"Why only talk about Cristiano Ronaldo when there are five or six absences?"
"Cristiano is indisputable, but this is my decision.’’
"For a long time it's been said we don't have players and, when I select others, I am criticised.’’
He added:
"In fact, Portugal has a new generation of players emerging. We have a lot of players that enable us to make this choice.''
"These games are not for experimenting, all players form part of the group."
After playing Russia, the Portuguese side will play Luxembourg three days later while Russia plays Croatia four days later. Fernando Santos' squad includes young talents such as such as 18-year-old Benfica winger Goncalo Guedes and 22-year-old Lucas Joao who plies his trade for English Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. Real Madrid center-back Pepe will also feature in the squad after recovering from a muscle injury.
Live Soccer TV has all the broadcast information you need to watch Portugal vs Russia live on November 14, 2015. See below for automated TV listings in your country.
Portugal’s full squad:
Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Eduardo (Dinamo Zagreb), Rui Patricio (Sporting CP).
Defenders: Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce), Cedric (Southampton), Eliseu (Benfica), Jose Fonte (Southampton), Neto (Zenit), Pepe (Real Madrid), Raphael Guerreiro (Lorient), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg).
Midfielders: Andre Andre (Porto), Andre Gomes (Valencia), Danilo (Porto), Joao Mario (Sporting CP), Joao Moutinho (Monaco), William Carvalho (Sporting CP).
Forwards: Bernardo Silva (Monaco), Goncalo Guedes (Benfica), Lucas Joao (Sheffield Wednesday), Nani (Fenerbahce), Nelson Oliveira (Nottingham Forest), Ricardo Pereira (Nice).
Russia's full squad
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Yury Lodygin (Zenit St Petersburg), Artem Rebrov (Spartak Moscow), Sergei Ryzhikov (Rubin Kazan)
Defenders: Alexei Berezutsky, Viktor Vasin, Sergei Ignashevich (all CSKA Moscow), Yury Zhirkov (Dynamo Moscow), Dmitry Kombarov (Spartak Moscow), Oleg Kuzmin (Rubin Kazan), Andrei Semenov (Terek Grozny), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit St Petersburg)
Midfielders: Denis Glushakov, Roman Shirokov (both Spartak Moscow), Igor Denisov, Alexei Ionov (both Dynamo Moscow), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow), Pavel Mamaev (FC Krasnodar), Alexander Samedov, Dmitry Tarasov (both Lokomotiv Moscow), Oleg Shatov (Zenit St Petersburg), Denis Cheryshev (Real Madrid/ESP)
Forwards: Artem Dzyuba (Zenit St Petersburg), Alexander Kokorin (Dynamo Moscow), Fedor Smolov (FC Krasnodar)
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