Covid rules Pep out of World Cup play-off first leg

Portugal defender Pepe will miss their World Cup play-off semi-final against Turkey on Thursday after testing positive for Covid-19, the Portuguese Federation have confirmed.

The 39-year-old's absence means the former European champions will be without their two first-choice centre backs for the clash at Porto, with Ruben Dias ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

Head coach Fernando Santos has called up Lille defender Tiago Djalo as a replacement for Pepe.

The winners of the match will face either Italy or North Macedonia five days later in a game that will determine one of the last three spots left for European teams at Qatar 2022, which kicks off in November