Football

Portugal’s packed line-up: which stars will play in Prague?

On Saturday evening, the Portuguese national team will be playing in Eden in Prague. According to the names, one of the most loaded teams that can think of success in Qatar. Which stars will show up in Prague?

Published

2 years ago

21. 9. 2022

David Beňo

João Cancelo

Let’s start in defence. One of the best full-backs in the world at the moment and a key player for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. He plays on the left side for the English champions, but in Portugal he has his place in his more natural position of right-back.

He has 36 starts for the Portugal national team, in which he has scored 7 goals. Last season the Citizens amassed 3 goals and 10 assists, this season he already has one goal and 3 assists.

Pepe

Real Madrid and Portugal legend. He played 10 seasons at the most successful club in football history and won three Champions League trophies. In 2016, he was also instrumental in Portugal’s European Championship victory.

At 39, he is still a cornerstone of Porto’s line-up, and is relied upon by Fernando Santos in Brazil. If he plays, the Czech strikers won’t have an easy time of it. Especially if he is paired with Manchester City’s Rúben Dias.

Bernardo Silva

Mr. Underrated. Guardiola’s secret recipe to success, Bernardo is sometimes a bit overlooked because he doesn’t have the best numbers and isn’t a top class offensive star, however he is extremely important to the team. He runs around an incredible amount of space, is exceptional in the press where he can take the ball away perfectly and is at the heart of much of the setting up of attacks.

He has already been introduced to the Czech fans, in 2015 at the EURO U21 played in the Czech Republic he took Portugal to the final and was one of the best players of the tournament. However, he had to suffer a defeat to Sweden in the final in Eden and hopefully he will have to do it again on Saturday.

Bruno Fernandes

He came into the Premier League like a champion and immediately established himself as one of the best players in the competition. In the first half of the season he recorded a record of 8+7, in the second year he collected 18 goals and 12 assists. The third season was weaker, but the 10+6 record still looks decent.

This year he hasn’t been doing well so far, plus he doesn’t always perform the same way in the Portuguese national team as he did in Manchester. Especially at last year’s Euro he was a big disappointment.

João Félix

The young superstar for whom Atlético Madrid shelled out 115 million euros. In Madrid, there is an alternating cloud over him, sometimes he has more success, sometimes he has a deaf period. He doesn’t suit Atlético’s defensive style of play too well, he would have flourished more in a more offensive team.

He is one of the regulars in the Portugal national team, but it’s difficult with his position. He’s not a pure top striker, where Cristiano Ronaldo has a certain place besides. But at the same time, he doesn’t play much from the wing either, he is more used to the role of a second striker, it’s just that Portugal play a 4-3-3 formation. That’s also why he is practically not in the starting line-up, but his time will come.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The best at the end. Cristiano Ronaldo perhaps needs no introduction, one of the best footballers in the world and author of the most goals in history is a big draw.

He has been rather struggling so far this season, with Erik ten Hag even leaving him out of the starting line-up, but he should shine again in the jersey of his beloved Portugal. He has played 189 games for the national team and has netted a staggering and record 117 goals.

Against the Czech Republic, Ronaldo is doing quite well. Although he didn’t make a mark in the first Nations League game in June, he knocked the Czech Republic out of the quarter-finals at Euro 2012 with a single goal. At Euro 2008, he helped the group win 3-1 with a goal and an assist.