Major blow for Portugal! Key star leaves national team camp ahead of decisive Wales clash
The Portuguese national team has suffered a significant setback ahead of their final group-stage fixture in the UEFA Nations League. Midfielder Bernardo Silva will not feature against Wales on Tuesday.
Details: The Portuguese Football Federation officially confirmed that the Real Madrid star and newly appointed national team captain has been declared unfit by the medical staff. Following an assessment by the FPF Health and Performance Department, the decision was made to release him from the camp for the remainder of the international break, though the exact nature of his injury was not disclosed.
Concern over Silva's fitness emerged immediately after Portugal's heavy 4-1 defeat to Denmark. The midfielder came on as a 79th-minute substitute for Bruno Fernandes and scored his side's only goal, but stayed out on the pitch running alone after the final whistle and was spotted wincing in discomfort.
Bernardo Silva is not the only player head coach Jorge Jesus will have to do without in Cardiff. Defenders and midfield options Rúben Dias and João Palhinha have also left the squad after accumulating yellow cards that rule them out of the match through suspension, leaving Portugal with 24 players.
Portugal travel to Cardiff to face Wales on Tuesday, 17 November, in the sixth and final round of League A Group 4. They need just one point to guarantee top spot in the group and secure seeding ahead of the quarter-final draw on 20 November.
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Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
