Eder gets recall as champions Portugal target 2020 Euro finals

Lisbon: Eder, whose goal won Portugal Euro 2016, on Thursday earned a recall to his country’s squad for their upcoming qualifiers for next summer’s finals against Lithuania and Luxembourg.

The 31-year-old Lokomotiv Moscow forward returns as part of a 25-man squad named by coach Fernando Santos as Portugal attempt to lock down a place at Euro 2020 over the final two qualifying rounds.

They host Lithuania, the bottom side in Group B, in the Algarve on Nov.14 before making the trip to Luxembourg three days later.

Portugal are second in their group but just one point ahead of Serbia following a 2-1 loss to leaders Ukraine in Kiev last month.

Portugal squad: Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio, Jose Sa; Defenders: Ricardo Pereira, Nelson Semedo, Jose Fonte, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Ruben Semedo, Raphael Guerreiro, Mario Rui; Midfielders: Danilo Pereira, Ruben Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Joao Mario, Joao Moutinho, Pizzi; Forwards: Bruma, Daniel Podence, Diogo Jota, Andre Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Goncalo Paciencia, Eder

Meanwhile, Leicester City midfielder James Maddison was included on Thursday in Gareth Southgate’s squad for their Euro 2020 qualifiers against Montenegro and Kosovo despite his controversial casino visit during the last international break.

England squad: Goalkeepers: Tom Heaton, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope; Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Ben Chilwell, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Danny Rose, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Trippier; Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, Fabian Delph, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Maddison, Declan Rice, Harry Winks; Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Callum Wilson

Also meanwhile, Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy was recalled to the France squad on Thursday for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Moldova and Albania.

Left-back Mendy, 25, was part of the squad that won the 2018 World Cup in Russia but has not played for his country since winning his ninth cap in a UEFA Nations League game against the Netherlands in September last year.

France are level atop qualifying Group H with Turkey on 19 points, four points clear of Iceland with two matches remaining and the top two advancing to the 24-team finals.

France squad: Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola, Mike Maignan, Steve Mandanda; Defenders: Lucas Digne, Leo Dubois, Presnel Kimpembe, Clement Lenglet, Benjamin Mendy, Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Kurt Zouma; Midfielders: N’Golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi, Tanguy Ndombele, Moussa Sissoko, Corentin Tolisso; Forwards: Wissam Ben Yedder, Kingsley Coman, Nabil Fekir, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Lemar, Kylian Mbappe

Agence France-Presse