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The second round of international matches had six benfiquistas racking up minutes and caps. After Rúben Dias and Pizzi have featured in the starting lineup in the Portuguese's triumph over Italy at Estádio da Luz, it was the turn of Cervi, Seferovic, Yuri Ribeiro and João Félix.
The Argentinean continues to be a bet at Argentina, led by Lionel Scaloni and Pablo Aimar. At the MetLife Stadium (United States of America), Argentina and Colombia drew without goals in a friendly match and the benfiquista was an option in the second half. He came on to replace "Pity" Martínez and he played 45’ for Argentina for the first time, playing on the left side of the attack.
A few days before, in the early hour of Saturday, he had made his debut for the senior team of his country coming on at 66’ in the 3-0 win over Guatemala.
Seferovic was an option once again
Seferovic was one of the standout players in the thrashing of Iceland with a goal and an assist, in the Nations League, and played again in the friendly match against England held on Tuesday evening.
The Swiss national team lost 1-0 against England and Seferovic came on at 80’ to replace Shaqiri. The player from Benfica played up front, a place that had been taken by Gavranovic.
João Félix in red-hot form and Yuri Ribeiro in the starting XI
In the Group from the U-21 European Championships qualifying round, Portugal traveled to Wales to beat the home team by 0-2. Rui Jorge handed a place in the starting XI to Yuri Ribeiro and João Félix, with the latter scoring a goal at 73’.
On the left side of the defense, Yuri Ribeiro was a starter, but ended up being sent off after seeing a second yellow card at 59’. The attacker came off at 83’ and was replaced by the player from Benfica B, Jota.
Relevant facts of the 8 benfiquistas in the national teams
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CERVI | Racked up his first two senior caps for Argentina; played 45 straight minutes for Argentina for the first time;
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SEFEROVIC | Scored a goal, made an assist; played in both matches, one of those (official, for the Nations League) as a starter;
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PIZZI | Starter in both matches, made an assist i the match against Croatia and made his debut as a starter for Portugal at Luz;
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RÚBEN DIAS | Starter against Croatia and Italy (he racked up 180' and was one of the players with the most minutes played), he made his debut for the National team at Estádio da Luz;
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ZIVKOVIC | Played 90' in Serbia's victory over Lithuania in the Nations League
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GEDSON | Made his debut for Portugal senior national team at the age of 19; he is among the five youngest players launched by Fernando Santos;
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JOÃO FÉLIX | Starter in both matches of the U-21's; scored a goal against Wales;
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YURI RIBEIRO | Played as a starter in both matches of the U-21 national team.
Text: Marco Rebelo
Pics: AFA / SFV / FPF / João Paulo Trindade / SL Benfica
