Euro 2012 may still be seven months away, but, with group qualification and the playoffs over, and the draw for the finals to be completed in the next few weeks, the key preparations for Poland-Ukraine are well underway.
Qualified nations only have a handful of friendlies remaining before the competition kicks off on June 8 in Warsaw, and each coach will already know the majority of the squad he wishes to take.
Goal.com thus breaks down how Euro 2012's top nations - England, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Spain - are likely to go about selecting their 23-player rosters.
We move through each positional department - goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and attackers - and divide the candidates into 'Definite', 'Probable' and 'Possible'. Definite selections are those who are pillars of the team, indispensable and irreplaceable stars who will only miss out on the finals in the most extraordinary of circumstances such as serious injury. For example, Xavi of Spain or Gianluigi Buffon of Italy. Probable selections are those who are likely to go, but are not so indispensable that they are immune to being cut. Possible selections are all the players who are fighting for the last places in the squad that are yet to be determined. Underneath these listed candidates, we then explain in detail the reason for our choices.
Below is a full rundown of how Portugal's 23 places could be taken.
Rui Patricio
|
Sporting Lisbon
|
|
Beto
|
CFR Cluj |
| Eduardo |
Benfica
|
|
Rui Patricio has benefited from the fact that he had already worked with Paulo Bento at club level when the 42-year-old was in charge of Sporting. Every time he has been called to action, he has not disappointed, so the 23-year-old custodian is red-hot favorite to guard Portugal’s goal in Poland-Ukraine.
On the other hand, Eduardo has found things hard in the national team since he joined Benfica on loan in the summer. His lack of playing time at the Estadio da Luz has cost him his place between the sticks, but he should still remain in the squad as a backup plan.
CFR Cluj loanee Beto has been a regular third-choice in Paulo Bento’s reign, but the coach may decide to hand his last goalkeeping place to Mika, who was the hero in the Seleccao’s impressive second-placed finish at the Under-20 World Cup.
| Bruno Alves |
Zenit St. Petersburg |
Fabio Coentrao
|
Real Madrid |
| Pepe |
Real Madrid |
| Joao Pereira |
Sporting Lisbon |
|
| Eliseu |
Malaga |
Rolando
|
Porto |
| Silvio |
Atletico Madrid |
|
| Ricardo Costa |
Valencia |
Miguel
|
Valencia
|
| Sereno |
FC Koln |
|
Following Ricardo Carvalho's dropout, Pepe will partner Bruno Alves at the heart of the team’s defense as the duo showed in playoff games against Bosnia and Herzegovina that they work well together. Fabio Coentrao will certainly claim a place on the left side of the defense, while Joao Pereira seems to be Paulo Bento’s preference in the right back position.
Although Malaga's Eliseu did not particularly impress as a full back, he is widely expected to be included in the squad as Coentrao’s understudy given the lack of choices for that position. Doubts remain over who will be the squad’s second right back for the showpiece event. With Atletico Madrid's Silvio recently struggling for form, Valencia's Miguel could still come in handy despite not having featured for the national team for over a year.
Porto’s Rolando has his place in the squad practically guaranteed, but the last defensive spot is expected to be contested by Ricardo Costa and Sereno. The Koln defender has enjoyed a positive start to the season at the Bundesliga side, which has made Paulo Bento favor him over Costa, but the Valencia man could still regain the coach’s trust if he manages to find regular playing time at the Mestalla.
Raul Meireles
|
Chelsea
|
Joao Moutinho
|
Porto |
| Nani |
Manchester United |
| Cristiano Ronaldo |
Real Madrid |
|
| Danny |
Zenit St Petersburg |
Carlos Martins
|
Granada
|
Ruben Micael
|
Zaragoza |
Ricardo Quaresma
|
Besiktas |
| Miguel Veloso |
Genoa |
|
| Ruben Amorim |
Benfica |
Duda
|
Malaga
|
Manuel Fernandes
|
Besiktas |
| Silvestre Varela |
Porto |
| Hugo Viana |
Sporting Braga |
| Vieirinha |
PAOK |
|
The midfield is, without a doubt, Portugal's strongest asset and the area in which Paulo Bento has the biggest number of quality choices at his disposal. The coach is expected to remain faithful to his five-man midfield, with three players in the middle of the park and two out wide.
After impressing in the two-legged affair against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Miguel Veloso should be a certainty as a holding midfielder, especially because Carvalho's absence forces Pepe to play in the defense, rather than in front of the backline. Porto’s Joao Moutinho and Chelsea’s Raul Meireles are both favored choices as the two central midfielders, with Ruben Micael and Carlos Martins both expected to be considered, as Hugo Viana remains an outsider despite enjoying a good season at Sporting Braga.
Further forward on the field, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani are obvious choices for the flanks. Danny should make the 23-man squad, despite missing Portugal’s last four matches, first because of personal problems, then because of an injury - just like Besiktas star Ricardo Quaresma. In case one of these players is unavailable, Duda, Vieirinha and Silvestre Varela could all be considered. Utility man Ruben Amorim may also make the cut, as the Benfica midfielder can also play at right back.
| Hugo Almeida |
Besiktas |
Helder Postiga
|
Zaragoza
|
|
Nuno Gomes
|
Sporting Braga
|
|
Helder Barbosa
|
Sporting Braga
|
|
Helder Postiga’s impressive track record during Paulo Bento’s reign will certainly earn him a starting berth at the Euro 2012 finals. Besiktas' Hugo Almeida, too, should make the 23-man group, even as a backup for the Zaragoza striker.
Sporting Braga veteran Nuno Gomes should be in the coach's thoughts for Poland-Ukraine. At the very least, the experience that the 35-year-old can bring is something the coach could make use of. If the former Fiorentina and Benfica striker does not make the cut, then Helder Barbosa could be under consideration, regardless of the fact the 24-year-old has not yet worn the Portugal shirt at senior level.
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