Ronaldo trains with Portugal for Armenia match

The Portuguese national team held its first training session on Tuesday to prepare for the Euro 2016 qualifying game against Armenia on June 13 and the friendly against Italy three days later, according to

The session was attended by 20 of the 25 players, including team captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who took a brief vacation after finishing the season with Real Madrid.

The players unable to attend were those who played on Sunday’s final of the Taca de Portugal, namely Rui Patrício, William Carvalho, Adrien and Nani from Sporting Lisbon, and striker Eder from Sporting Braga.

The Portuguese team leads its qualifying group with 9 points, while Armenia falls in last place, with one point.

Portuguese coach Fernando Santos said on Monday in a press conference that his team is far from automatically qualified, as Denmark and Albania are not far behind, each carrying seven points.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS