Portugal coach Paulo Bento has named his final 23-man squad for the 2014 World Cup on Monday evening, serving up a couple of surprises in the process.
Real Madrid stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe have been included despite carrying minor injuries, with Manchester United fringe player Nani also in the mix.
“Nani had a problem up until March but he’s improved and he’s been training normally since then,” Paulo Bento was quoted as saying.
The biggest surprise has been the inclusion of Sporting Braga midfielder Rafa Silva, who had previously only completed 45 minutes in a Portugal shirt.
The inclusion of Andre Almeida and Ruben Amorim has also been received with mix feelings considering the two players have spent most of the season on the fringes at Benfica.
It would appear as Paulo Bento was picking his players more on merit than current form and such an approach could backfire on him at the tournament finals.
Portugal will not have an easy job in Group G, having been placed alongside Germany, USA and Ghana, but the Seleccao are 1.54 (8/15) to qualify for the next stage.
Portugal squad:
Goalkeepers: Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (Braga), Rui Patrício (Sporting);
Defenders: Andre Almeida (Benfica), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Joao Pereira (Valencia), Neto (Zenit St Petersburg), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Valencia);
Midfielders: Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahce), Ruben Amorim (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting Lisbon), Rafa (Braga);
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Eder (Braga), Helder Postiga (Lazio), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Nani (Manchester United), Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg).