Mendes, Palhinha and Gonçalves receive Euro 2020 call-ups

Sporting Clube de Portugal will provide three players for the Portuguese national team in this summer's European Championship tournament, scheduled to get underway in June.

Nuno Mendes, João Palhinha and Pedro Gonçalves are the three members of Os Leões named on the 26-man squad list, announced by coach Fernando Santos on Thursday.

Mendes and Palhinha retain places in the squad, whilst Pedro Gonçalves receives a first senior call-up. He recently finished the Liga NOS season as top goalscorer in the competition.

Portugal are part of Group F in Euro 2020, and will face Hungary (June 15th), Germany (June 19th) and France (June 23rd) in their defence of their title.

The trio will represent Portugal and Spain, respectively, for the first time

João Palhinha, Nuno Mendes and Pedro Porro have been called up by their respective countries for the upcoming international fixtures, with all three being included in senior squads for the first time.

Nuno Mendes is the youngest player named in the Portugal squad, at just 18 years of age. He has previously represented the country at under-21s level in qualifying matches for Euro 2021. Palhinha has extensive experience in the Portuguese setup at youth level, but last featured for the under-20s in 2015. Both players have received their opportunity as a result of outstanding performances for Sporting CP this season.

Portugal will begin qualifying for the 2022 World Cup with matches on March 24th against Azerbaijan and March 27th against Serbia, followed by a meeting with Luxembourg.

Pedro Porro received recognition for his excellent season with his first involvement in the senior national team for Spain. Coach Luis Enrique will run the rule over the right back in Spain's games against Greece, Georgia and Kosovo in World Cup 2022 qualifiers.

Porro has won various individual awards for his showings in Liga NOS this season, since joining Sporting CP last summer. He has prior experience with Spain at under-21s level.

The fullback's buyout clause is set at 70 million euros

Sporting Clube de Portugal and Nuno Mendes have reached an agreement on a contract extension for the first team player, through to 2025. The new deal raises the fullback's buyout clause set to 70 million euros.

Speaking after signing his new contract, Mendes said: "I am very happy. It is a unique feeling to be able to renew my contract with Sporting CP. I am always willing to help the club, and that is what I intend to do here."

"I'm a hardworking player, who gives everything for the team. That's what you can always expect from me, because I will do my best for this club."

Still only 18 years old, Mendes has been part of the Sporting CP setup since 2011/2012, when he was 9. Now an Under-21s international for the Portuguese national team, he made his debut for the Sporting CP first team last season and continues to be involved in the squad, despite his young age.

"It has always been a dream of mine to play for the senior squad. Now that I am here, I have to do my best to continue alongside these players, and help the club to the fullest", he explained.

"I'm part of a good group that has responded well this season. We have to keep going, because this doesn't stop. I promise that there will be a lot of hard work from the team and also from me. Sportinguistas can expect me to give everything in every game and every training session."

Alvalade pair in fifth in double scull B final

Pedro Fraga and Nuno Mendes brought their Rowing World Cup campaign to a close with an 11th place finish in the double scull event this weekend, after finishing 5th in the B final with a time of 6:49.770. The Olympic pair held 5th without much competition, cruising through the 500m, 1,000m and 1,5000m check points in the same position.

The Polish pair of Artur Mikolajczewski and Milosz Jankowski (6:42.710) won the B final, while the South African world record holders James Thompson and John Smith won the B final.

Fraga and Medes will have one last opportunity to qualify for their third Olympic Games when they compete in Lucerna, from the 22nd to the 24th of May.

Nuno Mendes in action in the World Rowing Cup

Nuno Mendes finished The World Rowing Cup Skiff C Final in second place this weekend, with a time of 7:19.980. The Alvalade athlete struggled around the 500m mark, but did well to recover and finish just behind the eventual winner, Yasushi Fukui.

The time was enough to claim 14th place in the overall standings, in na event won by the Slovakian, Lukas Babac.

Pedro Fraga had a trickier day of action, finishing Final C in the doubles event with Nuno Coelho in 5th place.