Trincão hungry to prove his worth for Portugal

STARTING SPOT: Francisco Trincãois hungry for a starting spot for Portugal. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Francisco Trincão once had the third largest buyout clause at Barcelona - €500m - but the passing of time means he would be content with a starting place for Portugal.

He was the wonderkid who Barca thought highly enough to place behind Lionel Messi (€700m) and Antoine Griezmann (€800m) in the ranking of fees required to prise away from the Camp Nou.

Ultimately, he returned to Sporting Lisbon, the club whose stadium will host two World Cup qualifiers over the next five days. Up first is the visit of Ireland to the capital on Saturday.

Trincão scored a brace in the 5-2 win over Denmark in March but isn’t quite sure whether Roberto Martinez will choose him in attack.

Rarely does Cristiano Ronaldo, at the age of 40, last the full 90 minutes and the 25-year-old was used as an impact substitute to full effect last time out, the 3-2 victory at second seeds Hungary last month.

“We have to match Ireland’s strength and use our strengths," said Trincão, referencing the last competitive meeting between the nations four years ago when Ronaldo’s late brace avoided an upset.

"Ireland are a very strong team in duels and they play with lots of heart but we have prepared for their tactics.” 

These two qualifiers – the second against Hungary – are the first home games since the tragic death of Portugal international Diogo Jota.

“He won’t be with us but he still gives us strength,” Trincão remarked about his passing. “We’ll use his memory to win this game and go further towards reaching the World Cup.” 

Most likely Trincão will be sprung from the bench to either chase or close out a game.

That Martinez has used him only for 199 minutes of his reign since affording a recall doesn’t bother him, particularly as he’s rebuilt his club career since joining Sporting three years ago.

“I'm just one of a big group,” he admitted, acknowledging the riches of talent available to the former Everton and Wigan Athletic manager. “Above all, I have to be happy with these minutes because they're a testament to what I've done so far. Then I just have to keep doing my job to get more minutes.

“I feel good and prepared. Last season was long but it stood to me. I’m ready to give my all for the national team now.” 

Meanwhile, Uefa have appointed Slovakia referee Ivan Kruzliak to officiate Saturday’s qualifier at the Estádio José Alvalade.

The 41-year-old has yet to take charge of a senior game featuring Portugal but was in charge for Ireland’s draw against Georgia in Tbilisi in 2017, part of the tilt at reaching the World Cup which was ended by Denmark in the playoffs.

Kružliak was in at Lansdowne Road last year but that was as fourth official for the Uefa Europa League final, Atalanta’s 3-0 hammering of Bayer Leverkusen.

Defender Liam Scales has been ruled out of the Ireland squad, creating a vacancy for QPR centre-back Jimmy Dunne to be called up ahead of Thursday’s flight to Lisbon.