At the Portuguese Football Federation’s ‘City of Football’ ground in Oeiras, near Lisbon, squad captain Cristiano Ronaldo was notable by his absence, as were Pepe, Danilo and Bruno Fernandes, all three of whom played for Sporting in Saturday’s Portuguese Cup final. Beto, Mário Rui, Nelson Semedo and Gonçalo Guedes were also still absent.

Goalkeepers José Sá and Rui Patrício were, by contrast, available for training, as well as Bernardo Silva, Pizzi, João Félix, Rúben Dias, Rafa, João Cancelo, William Carvalho, Jose Fonte, Diogo Jota, João Moutinho, Dyego Sousa, Rúben Neves and Raphael Guerreiro.

In the first 15 minutes of Monday’s session, which were open to the media, the players warmed up as usual, with the ball, and with the goalkeepers training separately.

The first week of preparation is to be on an open basis, with players only obliged to turn up for training. On Sunday they are to gather for closed session in the runup to the game.

Portugal, who are European champions, face Switzerland in the semi-finals of the new League of Nations competition on 5 June, at FC Porto’s Dragon Stadium, starting at 7.45pm. The next day England face Holland in the other semi-final at the Dom Afonso Henriques Stadium in Guimarães, also at 7.45pm.

The winners of the two matches will play in the final on 9 June, again in Porto and again at 7.45pm, while the third-place playoff is earlier that same day in Guimarães, at 3pm.

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