Thigh Knock Rules Out Dalot, Lazio’s Nuno Tavares Joins Portugal Squad

A few hours after Portugal landed in the Caucasus for their first 2026 World Cup qualifying double-header of the season, the national camp was hit by a setback: Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot felt a twinge in his right thigh and was promptly sent home for assessment. Roberto Martínez reacted with trademark pragmatism, dialling Rome to summon Lazio’s Nuno Tavares. The 25-year-old will now compete with João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes and a handful of out-of-position midfielders for the wide slots against Armenia and Hungary.

A training knock changes the pecking order

The incident unfolded during a closed session at Cidade do Futebol on the outskirts of Lisbon, just before the squad flew east. Dalot reported "muscular discomfort" and the federation’s Unidade de Saúde e Performance decided not to gamble on a player who logged nearly 3,400 minutes for United last season. The full-back left the camp less than 24 hours later and is already back in Carrington for scans. In practical terms, Portugal lose a specialist on the right who blends defensive awareness, overlapping stamina and, crucially for Martínez, the ability to invert into midfield when possession is secured.

The man flying in from Rome

Tavares boarded the first available flight from Fiumicino to Yerevan and joined his new-old teammates late Monday night. Lazio only made his move permanent in June, impressed by a 2024/25 campaign that produced 9 assists in 32 Serie A appearances. While his opening fortnight of the current season shows empty columns for goals and assists, underlying data remain solid: 88.7% passing accuracy, 2.73 tackles per 90 and a tidy 66.7% success rate in duels. Those numbers helped convince Martínez that the Lisbon-born left-footer can flip flanks if required; he debuted for the Seleção last November and even travelled as the unofficial "27th man" to the Nations League Final Four, so the playbook is already familiar.

Martínez redraws the full-back map

Asked to justify the call-up, the Spain-born coach stressed "versatility and tactical memory". With João Cancelo free to drift into midfield and Nuno Mendes able to shift to a back three on the fly, Tavares offers balance: a true touch-line hugger who can also step inside when Cancelo pushes up. Martínez hinted that midfielder João Neves may appear at right-back in certain phases, underscoring his belief that modern football hinges on positional interchange rather than rigid roles. The injury therefore accelerates experiments the staff had pencilled in for later in the cycle.

The September stakes

Portugal top their qualifying group with 12 points from 4 matches, but a tricky visit to Yerevan can quickly cloud the picture; Armenia held France to a draw here last year and the Republican Stadium tends to be raucous. Four days later, Hungary arrive at Lisbon’s Estádio da Luz, a ground where the Seleção have not lost a competitive game since 2014. Six points would almost seal a ticket to North America, yet even four would maintain a comfortable cushion ahead of October’s window.

What expat supporters need to know

Tickets for the Lisbon fixture were still available at the time of writing through the Portuguese Football Federation’s official portal. RTP 1 will carry both matches free-to-air domestically, while international viewers can stream via UEFA’s "European Qualifiers TV" service—useful for anyone still waiting for their canal cabo installation. Travel-wise, Yerevan requires a connection through Istanbul or Vienna and no visa for EU residents. More pertinent for Manchester United fans living in Portugal: club doctors expect Dalot’s scans to clarify the timeline by Thursday, but early indications suggest a minor strain rather than a long-term absence. Those planning a pilgrimage to Old Trafford later this autumn may breathe a little easier.