Portugal roster for World Cup

Armando Franca/Associated Press

Manager Paulo Bento has made official the 23 players he will be leaning on for the next two months.

A week after narrowing Portugal's World Cup roster to 30 players, Bento made seven more cuts on Monday, trimming the final roster down to 23.

We know now who will be representing the Seleccao in Brazil, so let's take an entire look at the squad and an early projected starting 11 before pre-tournament friendlies shake things up.

Full Roster

Portugal 2014 World Cup Roster

GK

Beto

Sevilla

GK

Eduardo

Braga

GK

Rui Patricio

Sporting

DF

Andre Almeida

Benfica

DF

Bruno Alves

Fenerbahce

DF

Fabio Coentrao

Real Madrid

DF

Joao Pereira

Valencia

DF

Luis Neto

Zenit

DF

Pepe

Real Madrid

DF

Ricardo Costa

Valencia

MF

Joao Moutinho

Monaco

MF

Miguel Veloso

Dynamo Kyiv

MF

Raul Meireles

Fenerbahce

MF

Ruben Amorim

Benfica

MF

William Carvalho

Sporting

FW

Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid

FW

Eder

Braga

FW

Helder Postiga

Lazio

FW

Hugo Almeida

Besiktas

FW

Nani

Manchester United

FW

Rafa Silva

Braga

FW

Silvestre Varela

Porto

FW

Vieirinha

Wolfsburg

FPF.pt

Starting 11 Projections

Starting Lineup Prediction

GK

Rui Patricio

DF

Fabio Coentrao

DF

Pepe

DF

Bruno Alves

DF

Joao Pereira

MF

Miguel Veloso

MF

Joao Moutinho

MF

Raul Meireles

FW

Cristiano Ronaldo

FW

Helder Postiga

FW

Nani

Portugal, who were disappointingly eliminated in the round of 16 in South Africa, have a difficult task in front of them. Germany, the United States and Ghana make up what many believe to be the most dangerous group.

Fortunately, having Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most transcendent players in the world, makes things a little easier. The reigning Ballon d'Or winner netted 47 goals across 40 appearances in La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid this season, and as Sweden know all too well, he's more than capable of taking over on the international level, too.

While Portugal will likely go as far as the 29-year-old carries them, he isn't worried about the burden.

"I won’t be putting myself under any pressure, " he recently told AS, via the Daily Mail's Michael Wade. "I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. I’ve spent many years playing at the highest level."

As Portugoal.net's Tom Kundert noted, this selection moves CR7—along with defender Ricardo Costa—into yet another record book:

Annoucement of Portugal squad coming up: CristianoRonaldo & perhaps RicardoCosta will become 1st Portuguese players to go to 3 World Cups.

— Tom Kundert (@Portu_Goal)

Ronaldo will be joined by Real Madrid teammates Fabio Coentrao and Pepe, who both figure to start along the back four.

One of the more surprising exclusions from Bento's final squad is Ricardo Quaresma. The 30-year-old Porto midfielder was expected to get the call to Brazil, but The Guardian's Matthew Tomaszewicz explains why Braga's Rafa was selected instead:

Bento brings Rafa, cuts Quaresma. Bento is an extremely static manager... Rafa can help break down a compact, low-block defense.

— Matthew Tomaszewicz (@shinguardian)

blogging to make money competency based education dept of education student loans strategic education inc blog zen habits blogging as a career jackson county board of education blog mickey ohio department of education jobs blogging quotes what is postsecondary education clovis adult education stephen a. smith education blogging set up blog jobs quality education title ix of the education amendments act of 1972 prohibits the following: education rankings by country why is education important education lawyers blogging in 2022 state education rankings 2020 blogging of future tal education stock education by state blog names topics in education research mcgraw hill education blogging through facebook github education i am malala: how one girl stood up for education and changed the world harvard continuing education education a memoir blog to book service blogging sign up blog writing blogging to make money online hippo education blogging events near me write off blogging expenses blogging through pinterest kanawha county board of education