Portugal head to the World Cup within the hope of placing Cristiano Ronaldo within the headlines for the proper causes and lifting the well-known golden trophy.
Ronaldo’s self-inflicted media circus has solely ramped up the stress on the Selecao, who’re heading to their eighth World Cup within the hope of reaching the ultimate for the primary time and making historical past.
This is what to anticipate from Portugal on the World Cup.
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves), Rui Patricio (Roma)
Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Joao Cancelo (Manchester Metropolis), Danilo Pereira (PSG), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester Metropolis), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielders: Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Ruben Neves (Wolves), Bernardo Silva (Manchester Metropolis), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Mario (Benfica), Matheus Nunes (Wolves), Otavio Monteiro (Porto), Vitinha (PSG), William Carvalho (Actual Betis)
Forwards: Andre Silva (RB Leipzig), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Ricardo Horta (Braga)
Portugal have endured various vital accidents over the previous few months which have dashed the hopes of some high-profile gamers.
Liverpool ahead Diogo Jota appeared to have overcome a hamstring damage in time for the event, however he picked up a calf downside in October which compelled him onto the sidelines alongside Pedro Neto (ankle) and Ricardo Pereira (Achilles).
Bernardo Silva
Manchester Metropolis playmaker Bernardo Silva is among the many finest gamers on the planet and can undoubtedly have a key position to play if Portugal are to get anyplace this winter. He has 24 assists in 72 caps, together with three in his final 5 video games.
Rafael Leao
Serie A’s MVP and a big-money goal for Chelsea, Leao has shortly emerged as an elite ahead able to inflicting havoc from the left wing. He is nonetheless a relative newcomer on the worldwide scene with simply 11 caps to his identify however he’ll probably get loads of minutes as a consequence of Jota’s absence.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Whether or not Ronaldo is definitely one in all Portugal’s finest gamers is up for debate nowadays, however there isn’t any denying that the 37-year-old has the flexibility to win any sport on his personal when he is actually up for it. He is the document goalscorer for males’s worldwide soccer and can hope to drag additional away atop the standings.
Bruno Fernandes
Ronaldo’s Manchester United teammate, Fernandes arrives on the World Cup in good spirits following his membership aspect’s resurgence. He has 9 targets and eight assists for his nation to his identify and can anticipate to hit double-figures for each by the point the event is over.
Fernando Santos has favoured the 4-3-3 formation lately, exhibiting extra of an attacking push in comparison with his 4-1-4-1 aspect from 2021.
Portugal predicted XI (4-3-3): Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Danilo, Mendes; Palhinha, Neves, Fernandes; Silva, Ronaldo, Leao.
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Portugal have had a powerful 2022 but it surely hasn’t at all times been potential to foretell what you are going to get from them.
They drew 1-1 with Spain on enemy soil earlier than shedding the return fixture at dwelling, whereas additionally they thumped Switzerland 4-0 earlier than shedding to the identical group only one week later.
Santos’ aspect can clearly beat anyone on their day, but when they do not get all of the items collectively, they’re beatable.
Portugal’s final 5 outcomes (all competitions)
Portugal 4-0 Switzerland
Portugal 2-0 Czech Republic
Switzerland 1-0 Portugal
Czech Republic 0-4 Portugal
Portugal 1-0 Spain
Portugal is likely to be the largest identify in Group H however whether or not they’re the highest group is unclear. They have been drawn alongside a really robust Uruguay aspect who may have completely no worry of their makes an attempt to prime the group.
In the event that they qualify from their group as anticipated, they’re probably going through one in all Brazil or Switzerland, who ought to end in that order in Group G. To keep away from Brazil, Portugal will in all probability must win their group, which will not be straightforward.
Even when Santos’ males do come prime and draw Switzerland, their current kind proves they’ll come unstuck towards the Swiss. It is robust to again them going too far.
Prediction: Final 16
