Sporting: 17 Players Called Up, Inácio Stays as Fonseca Prepares

New Sporting CP manager Paulo Fonseca will have a significantly reduced squad to work with during the upcoming international break, with 17 first-team players called up to their national teams, according to a report by A Bola. The number presents a significant challenge for the new coach as he attempts to implement his tactical ideas before the team’s return to competition.

The break arrives at a transitional time for the Lisbon club, coming just after Fonseca’s appointment and preceding a crucial period of fixtures. A change of coach before a FIFA international window gives the new manager time to work with the players, but for a club with as many internationals as Sporting, the available group is inevitably smaller, complicating the preparation schedule.

This time, the scale of the player exodus is particularly high. The 17 players called up means Fonseca must subtract that number from his main squad for the work sessions after the match against Moreirense and before the return to action against União da Serra in the Taça de Portugal on November 21. The timing of the match against União da Serra, A Bola reported, provides a buffer that is not always guaranteed in these breaks, as the last international matches will be completed before the Sporting players reconvene.

Defensive Cohesion Remains for Fonseca

A key positive for Fonseca, who has identified defensive improvement as a primary objective for the team, is that his entire central defensive unit will remain at the club’s training center in Alcochete. Portuguese defenders Gonçalo Inácio and Eduardo Quaresma, along with Senegalese center-back Ibrahima Ba and Belgian prospect Yvan Debast—who is continuing his recovery from injury—will all be available for focused work.

“If the Sporting team does not defend well, it is impossible to fight for titles,” Fonseca stated during a pre-match press conference, as reported by Leonino. He clarified that his approach to defending is different from that of his predecessor, Rui Vitória, and that improving this area is a top priority. “It is not that I want to spend a lot of time defending, we have worked on that. The only thing is that we are different.”

Inácio’s absence from the Portugal national team roster stands out. The young defender was not called up by senior national team manager Jorge Jesus, a decision Fonseca addressed directly. “It was not this time by option of mister Jorge Jesus, whom I respect immensely,” Fonseca said, as quoted by Bola na Rede. “On the other hand, I am satisfied because I have the possibility to work with him. It would be two weeks that I could work with the players, but we don’t have much. We have some defenders, and with Gonçalo’s presence, the number increases.”

Rui Silva Portugal’s Sole Representative

Among the Sporting players, only goalkeeper Rui Silva has been called up to the senior Portugal national team. His selection comes at a time when his playing time at the club has been reduced. Since the last FIFA window, Kaique has been the preferred goalkeeper for Sporting, limiting Silva’s opportunities on the pitch, according to the report from diadejogo.pt.

The call-up for the Portugal national team is important for Silva, who will aim to take advantage of his opportunity with the national side while also fighting to return to the Sporting starting lineup.

International Call-Ups by Nation

The 17 players called up cover a wide range of national teams at various levels:

• Portugal (Senior): Rui Silva.
• Portugal U21: Eduardo Felicíssimo, João Simões, Rafael Nel, and Mauro Couto, who does not yet have full first-team status at Sporting.
• Portugal U20: Flávio Gonçalves and Salvador Blopa.
• Italy: Dumbia.
• Greece: Vagiannidis and Ioannidis.
• Mozambique: Geny Catamo.
• Colombia: Luis Suárez.
• Uruguay: Maxi Araújo and Zalazar.
• Australia: Irankunda (on standby due to player dissatisfaction with the locations of friendlies, which are set to be played in Doha, Qatar, and Amman, Jordan).
• Denmark U21: Silas Andersen.
• Spain U21: Fresneda.
• England U20: Jesse Derry.

Fonseca Focuses on Immediate Challenges

While the long-term goal is to build a team capable of challenging for the Primeira Liga title, Fonseca is focusing on the immediate challenge of managing a squad with significant absences. “In football, we don’t have time. We must have immediate results,” he told reporters from Leonino. “What I can say is that this short time I had with the players gives me great confidence for the future. A series of very complicated games is coming, with no time to train, but the receptivity I received from the players makes me believe that we can start to be different.”

The new manager is also cautious about revealing specific weaknesses, stating, “We have a tendency to hide our fragilities. If we have them, I am not going to divulge them. I have to find out if they exist and work here to improve them.” This approach suggests a methodical, internal-focused process during the training camp.

November Schedule Builds to Critical Matches

The period after the international break is packed with high-stakes matches that will test Fonseca’s influence on the team. After the Taça de Portugal match against União da Serra on November 21, Sporting will host Manchester United at Estádio José Alvalade in the UEFA Champions League on November 25. The month will conclude with a crucial league match at FC Porto’s Estádio do Dragão on November 29. In that match, only a victory will keep Sporting’s hopes of winning the league alive.

This difficult stretch of games shows why Fonseca needs as much time as possible to work with his players, especially his main defenders, to teach the principles he thinks are needed to win. The brief window between the Moreirense match and the international call-ups is his first opportunity to do so on a larger scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Sporting players are on international duty?

Seventeen first-team players from Sporting CP have been called up to their respective national teams for the November international break.

Which Sporting players are not on international duty?

The entire central defensive unit will remain in Alcochete: Gonçalo Inácio, Eduardo Quaresma, Ibrahima Ba, and the injured Yvan Debast.

When is Sporting’s next match after the international break?

Sporting will return to action on November 21 against União da Serra in the Taça de Portugal.

Sporting’s match against Moreirense is scheduled for November 7, at 20:30 local time.

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