Portugal squad: Matchday exclusion confirmed (along with squad number changes)
Just hours ahead of kick-off against Norway at the Estádio do Dragão, Portugal have confirmed their 23-man squad for the decisive Nations League clash. With the squad down to 24 players following Cristiano Ronaldo's early exit from the training camp, head coach Jorge Jesus had to trim one final name from the matchday roster, opting to leave out Gonçalo Inácio. The Sporting CP centre-back will miss out on a place on the bench and watch the encounter from the stands in Porto.
The defender's omission opens the door for Francisco Conceição to return, having been the one left out for the trip to Copenhagen. The winger will wear the number 14 shirt, which had been assigned to Inácio in the previous clash against Denmark. Meanwhile, the number 7 shirt, inherited by Rafael Leão following the captain's departure, remains untouched in the hands of the AC Milan forward.
The remaining changes on the team sheet feature a squad number swap in attack. Pedro Neto and Fábio Silva have traded shirts compared to the recent 4-2 win: the Chelsea winger vacates number 18 to take number 17 this Sunday, while the young Borussia Dortmund forward takes the opposite route and will wear number 18 on the pitch at the Dragão.