With nineteen days remaining, Ghana’s opponents, Portugal have released a 55-man preliminary squad for the World Cup.
Portugal have five goalkeepers in their provisional squad, with Diogo Costa, Rui Patricio, Jose Sa, Rui Silva and Anthony Lopes included. Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot, Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo and Arsenal’s Cedric Soares are among the 10 full-backs on the list.
Manchester City’s Ruben Dias, former Real Madrid man Pepe and Paris Saint-Germain’s Danilo Pereira are three of the 11 centre-backs in the squad. Portugal have also named 15 midfielders on their roster.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Arsenal’s Fabio Viera have also been named on the list. Liverpool’s Carvalho, though, appears to be a surprise inclusion.
Fernando Santos’ side have 10 forwards, including five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo in their squad. It now remains to be seen who will make the list for the World Cup in Qatar.
While Santos has named 55 players in his provisional squad, he will be forced to leave 26 of them out in his final list. Teams are required to submit their final squad for the World Cup before November 14.
Portugal face Nigeria in a pre-World Cup friendly in Lisbon on November 17, however, Santos will have already confirmed his final squad by then as they prepare to have great start against Ghana on November 24.
Portugal’s 55-man provisional squad
GOALKEEPERS
Diogo Costa
Rui Patricio
Anthony Lopes
Jose Sa
Rui Silva
DEFENDERS
Diogo Dalot
Nelson Semedo
Joao Cancelo
Cedric Soares
Thierry Correia
Antonio Silva
Danilo Pereira
David Carmo
Diogo Leite
Domingos Duarte
Fabio Cardoso
Goncalo Inacio
Jose Fonte
Pepe
Ruben Dias
Tiago Djalo
Mario Rui
Nuno Mendes
Nuno Tavares
Raphael Guerreiro
MIDFIELDERS
Florentino Luis
William Carvalho
Ruben Neves
Joao Palhinha
Joao Moutinho
Joao Mario
Renato Sanches
Sergio Oliveira
Matheus Nunes
Otavio
Vitinha
Bruno Fernandes
Bernardo Silva
Fabio Carvalho
Fabio Vieira
Goncalo Guedes
Nuno Santos
Ricardo Horta
Trincao
FORWARDS
Cristiano Ronaldo
Joao Felix
Jota Filipe
Pote
Daniel Podence
Rafael Leao
Andre Silva
Beto
Goncalo Ramos
Paulinho
Vitinha
