Coentrao blow for Portugal
The Portuguese Football Federation have confirmed Fabio Coentrao has been forced to withdraw from the national team due to a problem with his knee. The Real Madrid full-back had reported for international duty with the rest of his A Seleccao team-mates, but was forced to pull out after team doctors declared him unfit for duty. "Fabio still has pain in his left knee and the medical department believe he is not fit for selection," read a statement from the FPF. The news means Coentrao will miss this weekend's friendly against France, while he is also rated as doubtful for next week's 2016 European Championship qualifier against Denmark. Portugal are hoping to hit the ground running under new coach Fernando Santos, who took over from Paulo Bento after he stepped down from the role following their shock defeat at home to Albania in September. That result followed on from their failed 2014 World Cup campaign, where Cristiano Ronaldo and his side were unable to make it past the group stages in Brazil.
