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Portugal's Joao Cancelo has tested positive for COVID-19 and is out of Euro 2020, the country’s federation announced on Sunday. Diogo Dalot has replaced the Manchester City right-back in the Portuguese squad. Earlier, Cancelo was named in Fernando Santos' final 26-man squad for the European Championships after helping Manchester City win a Premier League and Carabao Cup double in 2020-21.
According to the UEFA protocol for the European Championships, players can be replaced before the first game of the tournament if they test positive for COVID-19. However, it is stated that players cannot go back to the squad, even when they next test negative.
“The AC Milan player will replace Joao Cancelo, who tested positive for COVID-19 following a quick test of the antigen carried out this Saturday by the health and performance unit of the FPF. Under-21 international Diogo Dalot will join the National Team's delegation in Budapest to prepare for his debut at Euro 2020," read a statement from the Portuguese Football Federation.
The versatile City full-back Cancello was expected to play a major part in Portugal’s pursuit of retaining their European Championships trophy but has been struck down with coronavirus ahead of their Group F opener against Hungary. Cancelo had travelled to Budapest with the squad as they prepare to face Hungary on Tuesday but was the only member of the group to return a positive COVID-19 test.
Portugal are seen as one of the teams to watch in the competition with so much talent packed into their squad but do find themselves in a tricky group with Germany and France.