Jota’s lack of playing time in Portugal’s Euro 2024 campaign has been disappointing for fans and supporters of the Liverpool forward. Despite a promising cameo appearance in the team’s first game, where he had a goal ruled out, Jota has been left on the bench for the majority of the tournament.
In the team’s recent match against Turkiye, Portugal manager Roberto Martinez opted to start Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao, and Cristiano Ronaldo in attack, with Bruno Fernandes playing as the No. 10. This left Jota as an unused substitute once again.
The match saw Pedro Neto come on as a half-time substitute, but Jota’s opportunity never arrived as Portugal comfortably won the game 3-0. The victory secured their place in the knockout round, where they will face one of the best third-placed teams in the last 16.
However, there is still hope for Jota to make an impact in the tournament. Portugal’s final group game against Georgia is now a dead rubber, meaning it holds little significance in terms of qualification or group standings. This could be the perfect opportunity for Martinez to give Jota a chance in the starting lineup.
If Jota is selected for the XI, it will only be his fourth start since September 2022. This highlights the long wait he has endured for consistent playing time at both club and international level.
Jota’s situation is not unique, as other players such as Ibrahima Konate for France, Joe Gomez for England, and Ryan Gravenberch for the Netherlands have also found themselves on the substitutes bench throughout the tournament. In contrast, players like Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo have been crucial figures for their respective teams.
As the tournament progresses, we will soon discover which Liverpool players will advance to the next stage and who will be starting their summer holidays early. At this stage, Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai are the closest to an exit from the tournament.