Appearances: 7
Best result: Third place, 1966
Manager: Fernando Santos
Star player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has rested Ronaldo for lesser games in La Liga and Copa del Rey action, meaning his ageing legs should still have plenty of mileage left in them when the action gets under way in Russia.
Ronaldo is the clear leader and captain of a talented squad, with Fernando Santos at the helm, the manager going as far as saying the forward is “crucial” to their hopes this summer.
Despite having the five-time Ballon d’Or winner in their ranks, Portugal are not considered one of the favourites to lift the trophy and they will need top performances in all departments of the field if they are to defy that prediction.
Santos’ squad will be full of familiar faces, as they are fairly unchanged from their Euro 2016 success. Sporting’s Rui Patricio will be handed goalkeeping duties again and veterans Pepe and Bruno Alves will provide the main cover in defence, with Cedric Soares and Raphael Guerreiro either side of the central pairing.
Joao Mario and William Carvalho should anchor the middle of the park, with Andre Gomes and Bernardo Silva offering attacking options.
Up front, the man expected to take some of the pressure of Ronaldo when it comes to scoring the goals is relative newcomer 26-year-old Andre Dias, who made his tournament debut last year at the Confederations Cup when Portugal finished third.
Nani and Eder, who scored the winner in the Euro 2016 final victory over hosts over France, are unlikely to make the trip.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes, Beto, Rui Patricio
Defenders: Bruno Alves, Cedric Soares, Jose Fonte, Mario Rui, Pepe, Raphael Guerreiro, Ricardo Pereira, Ruben Dias
Midfielders: Adrien Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Mario, Joao Moutinho, Manuel Fernandes, William Carvalho
Forwards: Andre Silva, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gelson Martins, Goncalo Guedes, Ricardo Quaresma.
