Benfica’s starting duo set for departure, José Mourinho left stunned | OneFootball

José Mourinho already knows he will be without Amar Dedic and Franjo Ivanovic for some time at Benfica. The reason is that the pair of starters for the Eagles have been called up to represent their national teams (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia) in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Benfica full-back's national team will travel to Cyprus for a match scheduled for October 9th at 7:45 pm. Amar Dedic's team is currently at the top of Group H in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with 12 points from five matches.

Croatia, meanwhile, will have a double commitment against the Czech Republic (October 9th, 7:45 pm, away) and Gibraltar (October 12th, 7:45 pm, home). Franjo Ivanović's team — who received news from the Eagles' management — is leading Group L in the World Cup qualifiers, with 12 points from four matches.

Amar Dedic and Franjo Ivanović were two of Benfica's major signings in the last transfer window. The full-back quickly won over the Eagles' fans, while the striker, despite having already found the back of the net three times, is still searching for his best form.

Benfica's first match after the international break will be in the Portuguese Cup, with the opponent yet to be determined. After the cup match, José Mourinho's team will travel to Newcastle for another Champions League game.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.