Lisbon: Forwards Eder and Nani were the surprise exclusions as Portugal head coach Fernando Santos announced the final 23-member World Cup squad here, Friday. Instead Andre Silva and Goncalo Guedes were given the opportunity to play alongside superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Also missing from the squad was Andre Gomes who, like Eder and Nani, played at the 2016 European championships won by the Portuguese. Injured Porto midfielder Danilo Pereira also missed out.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo and 34-year-old Ricardo Quaresma were the only players over 30 in the Portuguese attack.
“From a human perspective, it’s very hard to discard players who were with us at Euro 2016,” admitted 63-year-old Santos. “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.”
Winger Guedes, 21, has impressed on loan at Valencia from Paris Saint-Germain this season, having struggled in France last term. Andre Silva, 22, scored eight goals in 14 games during AC Milan’s Europa League campaign, which proved enough to see him called up despite only starting seven Serie A matches.
Santos also called up 21-year-old Benfica defender Ruben Dias for the first time, but Monaco youngster Rony Lopes missed out despite a breakthrough season in Ligue 1 with 13 goals from midfield. Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves also failed to make the final list, despite starting a friendly win in March over Egypt.
Portugal are in Group B alongside Spain, Morocco and Iran and will play their first game against the Spanish June 15.
The squad: (Goalkeepers): Anthony Lopes, Beto, Rui Patricio; Defenders: Bruno Alves, Cedric Soares, Jos Fonte, Mario Rui, Pepe, Raphael Guerreiro, Ricardo Pereira, Ruben Dias; (Midfielders): Adrien Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Mario, Joao Moutinho, Manuel Fernandes, William Carvalho, Bernardo Silva; (Forwards): Andre Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gelson Martins, Goncalo Guedes, Ricardo Quaresma.