Benfica forward Pizzi will replace Nani in Portugal’s 24-man squad for the World Cup qualifier home to Andorra on Friday, the Portuguese Football Federation said.

Nani, 29, who played a starring role in Portugal’s Euro 2016 triumph in France, has a muscle strain in his right leg but the Valencia winger should be fit for the qualifier away at the Faroe Islands on Monday.

Pizzi

“According to an evaluation by the Portuguese Football Federation’s health department, Nani is not fit for the match against Andorra,” the federation said in a statement.

Portugal began their qualifying campaign for Russia 2018 with a 2-0 loss away to Switzerland on September 6.