Tag: Portugal

Ronaldo pushed for Portugal to face Azerbaijan in Turin: Reports | Football News – Times of India

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Cristiano Ronaldo pushed for Portugal to play next week’s 2022 World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan in Turin, with the veteran forward keen for his nation to use Juventus’ training centre as a base, according to reports in Italy.
Earlier this month, Portugal were granted permission to change the location of their qualifier against Azerbaijan from Lisbon to Turin over coronavirus concerns, and several Italian newspapers suggest Ronaldo played a part in the move.
Until a few days ago, Portugal was on Britain’s red list of countries for COVID-19, meaning returning Premier League players would have faced a hotel quarantine period. Although Portugal is now off the red list Wednesday’s Azerbaijan clash is still set to go ahead in Turin.
Gazzetta dello Sport and Tuttosport said Portugal’s all-time top goalscorer also negotiated with Juventus for his compatriots to use the club’s Continassa sports centre and for the team to stay at J|Hotel next to the training base.
Portugal begin their qualification bid for next year’s Qatar World Cup on Wednesday and will train at the Continassa base next Monday and Tuesday before facing Azerbaijan at the Juventus Stadium.
Juventus declined to comment on Ronaldo’s involvement when approached by Reuters.

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Portugal Set to Take Vacant Slot on Formula One Calendar in May

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Portugal’s Algarve circuit is set to return to the Formula One calendar this season, taking the vacant slot left by Vietnam on May 2. The BBC and Sky Sports television said teams would be told officially at a meeting of the Formula One commission on Thursday that the third round of the season would be in Portugal.

Sources told Reuters the news, first reported by motorsport.com, was correct.

The Algarve circuit near Portimao hosted a grand prix for the first time last October on a heavily revised calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The return would have been confirmed last month but that was thrown into doubt by the country seeing a spike in cases and imposing a nationwide lockdown.

Bahrain, which opens the season on March 28, could have hosted two successive races if the plans for Portugal had been cancelled.

The Portuguese Grand Prix will be on the weekend before the Spanish round at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.

That would mean the mostly British-based teams would stay abroad, avoiding the need for a period of hotel quarantine that would arise under present rules if they returned directly from Portugal.

Portugal is on Britain’s ‘red list’ of countries with a heightened risk.

Formula One personnel have to undergo regular testing during the season, with teams operating in protective ‘bubbles’ at racetracks.

New F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said last week that the sport still aimed for a record 23 races this year after holding just 17 last season.



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