FIFA World Cup 2018: Portugal

For the Euro 2016 champions nostalgia will not win them the trophy and Portugal manager Fernando Santos shows no signs of this, dropping Euro 2016 winners Nani (Lazio), Andre Gomes (Barcelona) and Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich) and extra-time winning goal scorer Eder (on loan at Lokomotiv Moscow from Lille).

One constant remains and that is captain and talisman Cristiano Ronaldo who has moved into a more central role for club and country and registered 15 goals and 3 assists during qualifying that was only bettered in Europe by Robert Lewandowski who scored 16 goals and registered 1 assist. Topping their qualifying group scoring 32 and conceding 4 shows that there is still life in the reigning European Champions.

The portrayal of Portugal being a one-man team is misguided and Andre Silva (AC Milan) provides more than enough attacking threat with 9 goals and 1 assist in qualifying but his lack of playing time in Serie A could be a cause for concern. Looking at the midfield a combination of Bruno Fernandes (Sporting Lisbon), Gelson Martins (Sporting Lisbon), Bernando Silva (Manchester City) and Goncalo Guedes (Valencia) will provide width and creativity being anchored by one of Joao Moutinho (AS Monaco) Adrien Silva (Leicester City) and William Carvalho (Sporting Lisbon)

Defensively Portugal is replacing Italy with relying on experienced defenders such as Jose Fonte (Dalian Yifang), Pepe (Besiktas) and Bruno Alves (Rangers) all of whom could come under pressure in Portugal’s opening game against a tricky, quick Spanish side. Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon) has established himself as the number one keeper for the tournament with Anthony Lopes (Lyon) providing competition. The full squad can be seen below.

Squad

Coach: Fernando Santos

Goalkeepers

Anthony Lopes (Olympique Lyonnais), Beto (Goztepe), Rui Patricio (Sporting)

Defenders

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

Midfielders

Adrien Silva (Leicester), Bruno Fernandes (Sporting), Joao Mario (West Ham United), Joao Moutinho (AS Monaco), Manuel Fernandes (Lokomotiv Moscow), William Carvalho (Sporting)

Forwards

Andre Silva (Milan), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Gelson Martins (Sporting), Goncalo Guedes (Valencia), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas)

Tactics

Portugal are likely to line up in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 as they go into the World Cup with Rui Patricio in goal being protected by an experienced back four of Cedric, Pepe, Bruno Alves or Jose Fonte and the young Borussia Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro. In midfield, it is likely that William Carvalho will protect the back four with Joao Moutinho and Joao Mario supporting a front three of Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andre Silva.

However, the domestic form of Gelson Martins and Bruno Fernandes could yet force them into the starting line up as both Andre Silva and Bernardo Silva struggle for game time abroad. If Euro 2016 and World Cup qualifying is anything to go by Portugal will not play at a high intensity and will patiently wait for opportunities in the hope that their talisman (Cristiano Ronaldo) can deliver.