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Portugal lose injured Pepe for World Cup qualifiers

12 August 2024 at 15:55
Pepe has withdrawn from Portugal's first three upcoing World Cup qualifiers after suffering an injury in a league match for Porto, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) said.
Pepe and goalkeeper Rui Patricio, who both played on Portugal's winning team in the Euro 2016 final, will miss the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign
Pepe and goalkeeper Rui Patricio, who both played on Portugal's winning team in the Euro 2016 final, will miss the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign

Sporting defender Luis Neto will take Pepe's place in coach Fernando Santos' squad, the FPF said in a statement on Sunday evening.

Pepe was due to return to the Selecao for the first time since October. The 38-year-old former Real Madid defender picked up a "muscle injury in his right leg" in a 2-1 league win at Portimonense on Saturday, Porto said.

Portugal will begin their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign for Qatar against Azerbaijan in Turin on Wednesday in a match relocated to Italy for health reasons.

The European champions then travel to Serbia on Saturday and Luxembourg three days later.

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Goalkeeper Rui Patricio has also been forced to withdraw from the squad after failing to recover from a head injury sustained playing for his club Wolverhampton. He was replaced by Olympiakos goalkeeper Jose Sa.

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