The chase for the 2016 European Cup will take its first steps on Sunday. Two teams attempting to qualify for the tournament will do battle in a match between Portugal and Albania. The contest scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET will be held at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon and can be live streamed here free. Additional TV coverage can be found on ESPN2.
Portugal head coach Paulo Bento had this to offer when asked about the status of his superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo (via USA Today): "Regardless of whether he has been playing more or less regularly, at the moment he can't play."
At his disposal, Bento has 25 men who can fulfill their international duties against Albania.
Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Dinamo Zagreb), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon), Anthony Lopes (Lyon).
Defenders: Joao Pereira (Valencia), Ruben Vezo (Valencia), Andre Almeida (Benfica), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Pepe (Real Madrid), Antunes (Málaga), Ricardo Costa (Al-Sailiya), Neto (Zenit St. Petersburg).
Midfielders: William Carvalho (Sporting Lisbon), Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahce), Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Andre Gomes (Valencia), Pedro Tiba (Braga).
Forwards: Nani (Sporting Lisbon), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg), Bruma (Galatasaray), Eder (Braga), Ivan Cavaleiro (Deportivo la Coruna), Ricardo Horta (Málaga).
Portugal would be best served returning to a 4-3-3 system featuring: Eduardo; Coentrao, Pepe, Neto, Pereira; Carvalho, Moutinho, Meireles; Nani, Eder, Horta.
Undoubtedly, Bento's first-choice XI will lack raw power and pace, but it will prove to be insignificant against a minnow like Albania. Portugal will have zero issues undressing them in Lisbon.
Prediction: Portugal 3-1 Albania
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