2010 FIFA World Cup - Portugal
2010 FIFA World Cup - Portugal National Team
2010 FIFA World Cup Portugal National Team:
Goalkeepers:
1 EDUARDO, 12 BETO and 22 DANIEL FERNANDES
Defenders:
2 BRUNO ALVES, 3 PAULO FERREIRA, 4 ROLANDO5 DUDA, 6 RICARDO CARVALHO, 13 MIGUEL, 21 RICARDO COSTA and
23 FABIO COENTRAO
Midfielders:
8 PEDRO MENDES, 14 MIGUEL VELOSO, 15 PEPE, 16 RAUL MEIRELES, 19 TIAGO and 20 DECO
Forwards:
7 CRISTIANO RONALDO, 9 LIEDSON, 10 DANNY, 11 SIMAO, 17 NANI and 18 HUGO ALMEIDA
Coach:
Carlos QUEIROZ
Top Players Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) and Liedson (POR).
2010 FIFA World Cup Schedule & Scores
The star players
While fans are rightly excited about the prospect of Cristiano Ronaldo’s involvement on football’s biggest
stage, the 2008 FIFA World Player played a subdued role in qualification, failing score in any of his seven
appearances. Nevertheless, the Real Madrid star is known for his ability to rise to the big occasion and will
undoubtedly be one of the men to watch at South Africa 2010.
Yet Portugal are no pushovers at the back. Bruno should bring aggression and aerial ability at both ends of the
pitch, while Ricardo Carvalho has plenty of sure-footed experience. Pepe is questionable following a knee injury,
and the loss of Jose Bosingwa is also notable. Veteran midfield pair Simao and Deco are also expected to shine.
The coach
Having guided the likes of Luis Figo, Rui Costa and Fernando Couto to consecutive FIFA World Youth Championship
titles in 1989 and 1991, Carlos Queiroz is credited as the mastermind behind Portugal’s ‘Golden Generation’.
At senior level, Queiroz enjoyed great success as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson, with a 10-month stint in charge
of Real Madrid sandwiched in-between his two spells as No2 at Manchester United. Having succeeded Luiz Felipe
Scolari after EURO 2008, this is in fact Queiroz’s second term as the senior national team coach. He last coached
the senior side from 1991 to 1993, a disappointing period during which he failed to lead them to either EURO 1992
or the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Previous FIFA World Cups
Portugal set the bar incredibly high on their first FIFA World Cup appearance in 1966, walking away with a
third-place finish along with a golden boot award for Eusebio. That maiden voyage remains their best performance
to date on football’s biggest stage.
After failing to progress past the first stage in 1986 and 2002, Germany 2006 marked a return to FIFA World Cup
form for the Portuguese. Undefeated during the group phase, they went on to overcome Netherlands and England en
route to the semi-finals, only to lose 1-0 to France and then go down to the hosts in the play-off for third place.
South Africa 2010 will be Portugal’s fifth FIFA World Cup appearance.
Records
1
Portugal - 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 - Portugal
The Favorites Carlos Queiroz's side may have only scraped through to the finals via a play-off
victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, but the Africa-born coach has copious talent at his disposal. Much of
it will come from Cristiano Ronaldo, a player capable of swinging any match. The likely presence in the
Portugal squad of Brazil-born players Pepe, Deco and Liedson will be an intriguing subplot to the meeting
between A Selecção das Quinas and A Seleção.