Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal into the World Cup after Fernando Santos named the veteran forward in his 26-man squad on Thursday.
Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal into the World Cup after Fernando Santos named the stager forward in his 26- man team on Thursday. The Manchester United striker, 37, has not been first choice for his club this season but will be part of his country’s shot to win the event for the first time in their history. Ronaldo, the captain and each- time leading arranger in men’s transnational football with 117 pretensions, has plenitude of youngish platoon- mates in support in attack, including Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix and AC Milan’s Rafael Leao.
” All the players I’ve called up come with the hunger to win and make Portugal world titleholders, Ronaldo included,” said Santos.
Ronaldo will go to his fifth World Cup, having played for his country in every edition of the event from 2006 onwards.
The trainer, who led Portugal to Euro 2016 glory in France, left Paris Saint- Germain midfielder Renato Sanches out of the team, bringing Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes rather.
“What’s most important are the players who’ll go to the World Cup,” said Santos, refusing to bandy players who did not make the cut.
” The 26( named) suppose that justice has been done, and those who do not go, the contrary.”
Santos called up uncapped Benfica centre- reverse Antonio Silva, 19, as well as 39- time-old Pepe.
The Porto protector has not played since October 4 because of a knee sprain but will be fit for the event in Qatar, which starts on November 20.
” I asked my medical department if there were any unfit players, the answer was no,” said Santos when asked about Pepe.
Liverpool striker Diogo Jota misses out because of a shin injury.
Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho, 36, who has appeared for his country 146 times, further than any other player piecemeal from Ronaldo, wasn’t included, and nor was his platoon- mate Goncalo Guedes.
Portugal open their World Cup crusade in Group H against Ghana on November 24, before facing Uruguay on November 28 and South Korea on December 2.
Santos was critical of the timing of the event, the first ever downtime World Cup, but was happy about the lack of trip involved at the event, with all the colosseums fairly close together.
“It’s not good for clubs, it’s not good for anyone,” said Santos.
“The exception is that it’s good for trip. I have shared in several World Mugs and travelling between games was delicate.
“In this aspect, there is an advantage. No colosseum is further than 25 twinkles down. We do not have to walk around carrying everything. It will not wear us down, the game ends and we go back to the hostel.” Know More FIFA News…
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Patricio (Roma/ITA), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton/ENG)
Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United/ENG), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City/ENG), Danilo Pereira (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City/ENG), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund/GER)
Midfielders:Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton/ENG), Joao Palhinha (Fulham/ENG), William Carvalho (Real Betis/ESP), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/ENG), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Otavio (Porto), Joao Mario (Benfica), Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton/ENG), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/ENG)
Forwards: Rafael Leao (AC Milan/ITA), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Ricardo Horta (Braga), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/ENG), Andre Silva (RB Leipzig/GER)
