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Portugal are making their eighth appearance at the World Cup in Qatar and coach Fernando Santos will hope that his team can live up to the expectations.They are yet to lift the coveted prize and their best result was a third-place finish in 1966. Could this be the time that Cristiano Ronaldo and co. finally get their hands on the trophy after securing qualification through the play-offs?<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>They defeated Ghana and Uruguay but lost to South Korea in the group stage, yet they still managed to qualify for the knockout stages as group winners.ALSO READ:<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/world-cup-2022-group-h-fixtures-results-standings-squads-and/bltc8e184023af41f7e" target="_blank"> World Cup 2022 Group H: Fixtures, results, standings, squads &amp; full details</a>

Portugal World Cup 2022 squad, predicted line-up versus Switzerland and star players

Porto's Diogo Costa was Santos' first-choice custodian throughout the group stage and will continue to stand between the sticks in the remainder of the tournament ahead of veteran keeper Rui Patricio.Wolves' Jose Sa is the third choice for Santos, but is yet to make his senior national team debut. <table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Rui Patricio</td><td>Roma</td></tr><tr><td>Jose Sa</td><td>Wolves</td></tr><tr><td>Diogo Costa</td><td>Porto</td></tr></tbody></table>

GOALKEEPERS

Portugal have a solid backline led by Manchester City skipper Ruben Dias. He is being paired with an experienced candidate in Pepe.Joao Cancelo is the preferred choice at right-back, although he has failed to replicate his form for Manchester City so far in Qatar.On the left flank, Nuno Mendes started until his injury against Uruguay. However, Santos is has cover in that position in Dortmund's Raphael Guerreiro, and Cancelo can play there too.<table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Pepe</td><td>Porto</td></tr><tr><td>Ruben Dias</td><td>Manchester City</td></tr><tr><td>Joao Cancelo</td><td>Manchester City</td></tr><tr><td>Nuno Mendes*</td><td>PSG</td></tr><tr><td>Diogo Dalot</td><td>Manchester United</td></tr><tr><td>Antonio Silva</td><td>Benfica</td></tr><tr><td>Raphael Guerreiro</td><td>Borussia Dortmund</td></tr><tr><td>Danilo Pereira</td><td>Paris Saint-Germain</td></tr></tbody></table>*Ruled out of the tournament after injury sustained vs Uruguay.

DEFENDERS

Portugal have plenty of quality in the centre of the park, too. The preferred three has been Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Neves and Bernardo Silva. But if Santos wants to mix things up in the middle, he has plenty of assuring options. Vitinha and Matheus Nunes are young and exciting talents, while William Carvalho adds further depth and experience to the roster. Fulham's Joao Palhinha was in fine form in the build-up to the tournament.Renato Sanches, once tipped to be a generational talent, has failed to live up to expectations. He is struggling for minutes at PSG after joining them in the summer and missed out on making the cut as a result.<table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Vitinha</td><td>PSG</td></tr><tr><td>William Carvalho</td><td>Real Betis</td></tr><tr><td>Bernardo Silva</td><td>Manchester City</td></tr><tr><td>Joao Mario</td><td>Benfica</td></tr><tr><td>Bruno Fernandes</td><td>Manchester United</td></tr><tr><td>Ruben Neves</td><td>Wolves</td></tr><tr><td>Joao Palhinha</td><td>Wolves</td></tr><tr><td>Matheus Nunes</td><td>Wolves</td></tr><tr><td>Otavio</td><td>Porto</td></tr><tr><td>Joao Palhinha</td><td>Fulham</td></tr></tbody></table>

MIDFIELDERS

Portugal's hopes may once again rest on the shoulders of Cristiano Ronaldo. The player with the most international goals in men's football will look to add to his tally in Qatar and guide his nation to the ultimate prize. He is being ably supported by players such as Joao Felix and AC Milan's Rafael Leao, with Diogo Jota and Pedro Neto both ruled out due to injury.Andre Silva and Goncalo Ramos made the cut, but there is no room for Goncalo Guedes, who missed out altogether.The retirement of Rafa Silva from international football in September was a surprise for Portugal. <table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Cristiano Ronaldo</td><td>Manchester United</td></tr><tr><td>Joao Felix</td><td>Atletico Madrid</td></tr><tr><td>Rafael Leao </td><td>AC Milan</td></tr><tr><td>Ricardo Horta</td><td>Braga</td></tr><tr><td>Goncalo Ramos</td><td>Benfica</td></tr><tr><td>Andre Silva</td><td>RB Leipzig</td></tr></tbody></table>

ATTACKERS

Cristiano Ronaldo most definitely is the star attraction in this Portuguese squad. The former Manchester United man has scored one goal in three appearances thus far which came against Ghana in their World Cup opener from the penalty spot.Other than Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes has been exceptional for Portugal. He is the top goalscorer of the team with two strikes to his name, which both came against Uruguay.

PORTUGAL STAR PLAYERS

The first choice between the sticks should be Diogo Costa, with the Porto man displacing the more experienced Rui Patricio for the qualification playoffs and now seemingly being Portugal's No.1. In defence, Ruben Dias and Pepe are likely to be the two centre backs with Guerreiro and Cancelo as the wide options. Santos may well deploy the midfield and attack that were so impressive in defeating Uruguay in the group stage. Ruben Neves and William Carvalho will anchor the central area, with Fernandes and Bernardo Silva in more advanced roles.Joao Felix should line up alongside Ronaldo to form a front two.Portugal XI (4-2-2-2): Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Pepe, Guerreiro; Neves, Carvalho, Bernardo Silva, Fernandes; Ronaldo, Felix

PORTUGAL PREDICTED XI VS SWITZERLAND

Portugal World Cup 2022 squad, predicted line-up versus Switzerland and star players | Goal.com Kenya

As Portugal are through to the last 16 of the World Cup, who is available to Fernando Santos for the round of 16 clash against Switzerland?

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