Team Sheet: Portugal

Written by Faris Albarghouthi

These notes were gathered in preparation for our panel discussion of the favorites and dark horses for this year’s World Cup in Russia.

Manager: 63 year old Fernando Santos (since 2014)
- Led them to last 8 in 2012 euros
- Round of 16 in 2014 WC
- Won 2016 Euros
6 WC apps (best is 3rd place in 1966)
Current FIFA ranking: no. 4 after Germany, Brazil and Belgium
Cristiano Ronaldo is leading goalscorer, scored 15 goals in 9 qualifiers (24 goals for Portugal total)
Group B in WC
- Spain (will be fierce competition)
- Morocco
- Iran
Last friendly was against Egypt → Beat them 2-1
Lost 3-0 in a friendly to the Netherlands who didn’t qualify
Key players:
- Obviously Cristiano Ronaldo
- Andre Silva
- Pepe
- Quaresma
- Guerreiro injured
- Bernardo Silva → great talent but doesn’t align with Santos’s 4-4-2 formation (he’s wide right, as opposed to a diamond formation with Silva at the attacking tip where he would be most useful)
Santos admits Portugal aren’t favorites to win: “For me, the favourites are Brazil, Germany, Spain, Argentina and France”

References:

FIFA.com. (2018, April 16). Santos: Portugal aren’t among the five favourites. Retrieved April 29, 2018, from http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2018/m=4/news=santos-portugal-aren-t-among-the-five-favourites.html

Portugal World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide – World Soccer. (n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2018, from http://www.worldsoccer.com/world-cup/portugal-world-cup-fixtures-399710