Portugal are up in opposition to Switzerland of their World Cup spherical of 16 tie on Tuesday night.
Fernando Santos is normally about as conservative within the press room as his groups are on the pitch. Nevertheless, the 68-year-old gave in to a whisper of braggadocio when he mentioned: “I’ve one trophy left to win; the most effective is but to return… and it’ll come this 12 months.”
Here is the XI Santos could deploy to take yet another step in direction of that last trophy.
GK: Diogo Costa – Portugal’s first-choice keeper was born in Switzerland, not shifting to the nation he represents till he was seven.
RB: Joao Cancelo – The Manchester Metropolis fullback is surprisingly taking part in in his first main worldwide match.
CB: Pepe – Two years older than Cristiano Ronaldo, the 39-year-old is the oldest outfield participant that made it into the knockout spherical.
CB: Ruben Dias – After his first season at Manchester Metropolis, Dias turned the primary defender to be voted soccer writers’ males’s participant of the 12 months for 32 years.
LB: Raphael Guerreiro – The tournament-ending harm suffered by Nuno Mendes has all however ensured Guerreiro of a beginning berth for the remainder of the World Cup.
CM: Bernardo Silva – An everyday for membership and nation, Pep Guardiola is a giant fan of his Manchester Metropolis midfielder. “He’s a superlative participant,” the Catalan coach gushed. “As a participant and as an individual, he is likely one of the greatest I’ve had.”
CM: Ruben Neves – The Wolves midfielder watched the delivery of his third baby from the workforce bus on the way in which again from Crystal Palace final 12 months.
CM: William Carvalho – The Angolan-born midfielder was given his debut by Paulo Bento – the coach that masterminded South Korea’s victory over Carvalho and Portugal of their last group sport.
RW: Bruno Fernandes – Paul Pogba’s first impression of his former Manchester United colleague painted a loquacious image. “He talks so much, he talks a lot, he has to talk.”
ST: Cristiano Ronaldo – After dropping to South Korea, Santos claimed that one of many victors was “verbally aggressive” to Ronaldo. Portugal’s captain supposedly tried to diffuse the state of affairs by saying: “Maybe he had a foul day.” Nevertheless, on a day when the 37-year-old was at fault for the equaliser and subbed off earlier than the winner, Ronaldo’s day was far worse.
LW: Joao Felix – The wriggling Atletico Madrid ahead has been fouled extra often than another Portuguese participant in Qatar.
Harry Symeou hosts Andy Headspeath, Toby Cudworth & La Liga TV presenter Semra Hunter to look again on the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa – be a part of us!
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