Acerbi absent but Spalletti says Italy "have everything" they need for Euros
Football![Acerbi absent but Spalletti says Italy "have everything" they need for Euros](https://images.sportsbrief.com/images/320x180/f6d3afc12098a27a.webp?v=1)
Bernardo Silva has named two Arsenal stars among his picks when asked to choose three non-Portuguese players for Portugal's Euro 2024 squad.
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Portugal's team is brimming with talent, with Cristiano Ronaldo expressing confidence that they "deserve" to win the tournament, outshining teams like England and France.
Under coach Roberto Martinez, Portugal can call on stars such as Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, and Silva, who revealed his selections of non-Portuguese players.
Silva first chose Kylian Mbappe, the new Real Madrid star from France, describing him as a "beast" and expressing his admiration for him.
"I would say Kylian Mbappe definitely. I played with him and he's a beast. I love him," Silva stated.
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Acerbi absent but Spalletti says Italy "have everything" they need for Euros
FootballAvoiding any bias towards his club teammates, Silva selected two players from Arsenal, who had been strong competitors in the Premier League last season.
He picked Declan Rice, who had been linked to Manchester City before signing with Arsenal, and William Saliba, praising him as a "really good defender."
"For a midfielder, I'd say Declan Rice. I really like him and I'm not going to choose any City players to avoid favoritism. Otherwise, I could have mentioned Rodri or another striker," Silva explained. "For a defender, I'll go with Saliba. I think he's a really good defender."
All three of Silva's choices—Mbappe, Rice, and Saliba—are set to compete in Euro 2024 for their respective nations. Mbappe and Saliba will represent France, while Rice is expected to start for England in their opener against Serbia.
Portugal, grouped with Turkey, Georgia, and Czech Republic in Group F, will kick off their campaign next Tuesday against the Czech Republic.