Portugal manager Fernando Santos has named his final 23-man squad for the upcoming World Cup in Russia with a few notable absentees.
Veteran winger Nani, now at Lazio, as well as Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes, Bayern Munich’s Renato Sanches and Lille striker Eder have all been omitted from the side.
Upon unveiling his squad, Santos admitted it was a difficult process for him to come to his final selection.
He said: “It hurts not to be able to include all the players who were with us in the European Championship.
“They have all contributed to writing a brilliant chapter in the history of Portuguese football, but I had to make choices that for me make a better puzzle.”
Four Premier League players have made the squad in Manchester City attacker Bernardo Silva, Leicester City midfielder Adrien Silva, Southampton right-back Cedric Soares and West Ham midfielder Joao Mario.
Portugal have a tough group at the World Cup that includes Spain, Morocco and Iran.
Portugal squad:
Goalkeepers:
- Anthony Lopes (Lyon)
- Beto (Goztepe)
- Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon)
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 Lisbon)
- Joao Mario (West Ham)
- Joao Moutinho (AS Monaco)
- Manuel Fernandes (Lokomotiv Moscow)
- William Carvalho (Sporting)
Forwards:
- Andre Silva (AC Milan)
- Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
- Gelson Martins (Sporting Lisbon)
- Goncalo Guedes (Valencia)
- Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas).
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