20 May 2014

Ronaldo leads Portugal squad, Quaresma dropped

10:08 am on 20 May 2014

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo headlines Portugal's 23-man squad for next month's football World Cup finals, while veteran striker Ricardo Quaresma has been overlooked.

Coach Paulo Bento slimmed down the original 30-man squad named last week, with FC Porto's Quaresma, 30, who had been expected to make his return to the national side, failing to make the cut.

Also dropped were Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, defenders Antunes (Malaga) and Rolando (Inter Milan), midfielders Andre Gomes (Benfica) and Joao Mario (Vitoria Setubal) and striker Ivan Cavaleiro (Benfica).

All those named have already played for Portugal with the least experienced being Braga striker Rafa, who has just one cap, followed by Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho and Benfica defender Andre Almeida, who have two each.

Portugal have been drawn in Group G at the World Cup with Germany, the United States and Ghana.

Portugal:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (Sporting), Beto (Sevilla/ESP), Eduardo (Braga)

Defenders: Andre Almeida (Benfica), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce/TUR), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid/ESP), Joao Pereira (Valencia/ESP), Neto (Zenith St-Petersburg/RUS), Pepe (Real Madrid/ESP), Ricardo Costa (Valencia/ESP)

Midfielders: Joao Moutinho (Monaco/FRA), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev/UKR), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahce/TUR), Ruben Amorim (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting)

Strikers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/ESP), Eder (Braga), Helder Postiga (Lazio/ITA), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas/TUR), Nani (Manchester United/ENG), Rafa (Braga), Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg/GER)