Who were unlucky to miss out on the Portugal squad?
A balanced squad with the perfect blend of youth and experience. That’s the general assessment when it comes to analysing Portugal’s squad for this summer’s European Championship.
But while few can dispute the sheer quality and strength in depth once more on display in the Seleção’s ranks, there are still some names who missed the cut and can consider themselves unfortunate to be on the outside looking in when Euro 2024 kicks off this month.
Pedro Gonçalves
One such name, undeniably, is Pedro Gonçalves. The Sporting CP winger had another scintillating season, in which his 11 goals and 12 assists in the league alone led Sporting to another impressive title triumph.
Yet despite being a talisman in another memorable campaign for Ruben Amorim’s outfit, Gonçalves will be nothing more than a mere spectator for the continent’s signature tournament, failing to make it into Martinez’s expanded 26-man squad.
He would be within his rights to feel aggrieved at such a decision. While he not only led his side to another Primeira Liga triumph, he also played a vital role in their run to the Portuguese Cup final with 4 goals in 5 outings, while 3 goals and 3 assists in 9 Europa League appearances illustrated his capacity to perform on the continental stage too.
The 25-year old attacker could have done little more to have had the chance to add to his 2 senior caps at international level, and seeing the likes of Pedro Neto, who for all his unquestionable talent spent much of last season injured, make Martinez’s final shortlist while he is omitted must be a painful revelation for the former Wolves and Famalicao talent.
Trincão
In a similar vein to the aforementioned Pedro Gonçalves, another Sporting hero, Francisco Trincão, can also count himself incredibly unlucky to have been left off the squad list. Most globally will remember him for his underwhelming stint at FC Barcelona, while others may look to his even more anonymous spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Back in Portugal, though, the story has been quite different indeed. It was a highly inauspicious start to the season for the 24-year old. Throughout the whole of 2023 upon signing in the summer window on a permanent deal from Wolves, Trincão barely got a look-in and did not impress. Limited to only appearances off the bench, he failed to score in his first 13 showings for the club. But with the turn of the year, things changed dramatically.
A run of 5 games in a row in January in which he found the back of the net a total of 6 times set the tone for what to expect for the second half of the campaign, and he firmly confirmed his place as a starter in Amorim’s side.
Nine goals and six assists in the closing 19 games of the season made him one of the most in-form Portugal players on the planet by the time the squad was announced and was integral to Sporting getting over the finish line and winning the league – but it still wasn’t enough to earn the chance to represent his country at Euro 2024.
Ricardo Horta
The Braga captain has been a consistent performer for the national team – his 4 goals in 12 games an indication of a footballer who can step up in the big moments.
It wasn’t his greatest season – but by no means was it a poor one either. Nine goals in the league is slightly down on the 14 he managed in the previous campaign, but still represents good output from a player who generally plays on the flank or just behind the main striker.
It is not a surprise as such that the 29-year old failed to be included in Portugal’s squad, but it can still be considered a personal disappointment for Horta who did enough to earn his inclusion, but the strength in depth in the attacking areas for Portugal ensures there just isn’t room for him on this occasion.
