Joao Mario earns Portugal call for upcoming friendlies

Joao Mario

 

Joao Mario has been called-up by Portugal for two FIFA World Cup warm-up friendlies at the end of March.

The West Ham United midfielder and his teammates, including former Hammer Jose Fonte, will head for Switzerland to face Egypt and the Netherlands.

The UEFA Euro 2016 winners will tackle the Pharaohs in Zurich on Friday 23 March before heading for Geneva to take on the Dutch on Monday 26 March.

Joao Mario is one of five English-based players in Fernando Santos’ squad, joining Southampton full-back Cedric Soares, Leicester City midfielder Adrian Silva, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ruben Neves and Manchester City attacker Bernardo Silva.

The 25-year-old has been capped 31 times since 2014, scoring once, and featured in all seven matches as Portugal were crowned European champions in France two years ago.

They will seek to add the World Cup crown when they travel to Russia in June to take on Spain, Morocco and Iran in the group stage.