Portugal World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide

Portugal World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide

Cristiano Ronaldo lead the Portuguese team  another world cup finals –The captain scored 15 times  in nine games to ensure Portugal came top of Group B ahead of runners up Switzerland  in 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Portugal won nine out of 10 games in a near perfect campaign which suggest  that the Selecao are experiencing a golden age. Head Coach Fernando Santos has won all but one of the 17 qualifying matches that Portugal have played since he took the reins in September 2014, with the small matter of a European Championship triumph in the middle. In what will be Ronaldo’s last shot at leading his country to the ultimate prize, Portugal travel to Russia in optimistic mood, although there are concerns about younger alternatives for central defenders Pepe, Jose Fonte and Bruno Alves – who have a combined age of over 100 years

Portugal World Cup Group

Portugal has been drawn in Group B, which contains their European rivals Spain, along with North African side Morocco and Iran.

Portugal World Cup Fixtures

Portugal will kick off their campaign against their rivals Spain on the 15th of June which will likely be an exciting game to watch. Result from that game may probably decide who wins the group, thereafter Portugal will take on Morocco 20th of June and Iran on the 25th of June.

15th June – Spain
20th June – Morocco
25th June – Iran

The Players

Stars
Ac Milan starAndre Silva announced himself in style, scoring nine goals and forming a lethal partnership with Ronaldo.

Stalwarts
Former Real Madrid defender Pepe remains the bedrock of Portugal’s defence, ageing Ricardo Quaresma and Joao Moutinho continue to make key contributions. Russia will be the final chance of World Cup glory the three.

Missing
Injury-prone Raphael Guerreiro, who was sidelined in much of the qualifying campaign, has established himself to be a clone of his predecessor at left-back Fabio Coentrao: brilliant whenever he plays.

Portugal World Cup Squad

Final 23-man squad-

GOALKEEPERS: Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon), Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Beto (Goztepe).

DEFENDERS: Pepe (Besiktas), Cedric Soares (Southampton), Bruno Alves (Rangers), Jose Fonte (Dalian Yifang), Mario Rui (Napoli), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Ricardo Pereira (Porto), Ruben Dias (Benfica)

MIDFIELDERS: William Carvalho , Bruno Fernandes (both Sporting Lisbon, Adrien Silva (Leicester), , Joao Mario (West Ham), Joao Moutinho ( Monaco), Manuel Fernandes (Lokomotiv Moscow).

FORWARDS: Cristiano Ronaldo (R.Madrid), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Andre Silva (AC Milan), Bernardo Silva (Man City),  Gelson Martins (Sporting Lisbon), Goncalo Guedes (Valencia).