Coach
Carlos Queiroz
01.03.53
Portugal coach since July 2008
In his second spell as Portugal coach. Has also been in charge of South Africa – he led them to qualification for the 2002 World Cup but then left before the finals – and Real Madrid, and worked as Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United.

Goalkeepers
Eduardo
19/09/1982
Sporting Braga
12 Caps, 0 goals
Made national team debut in February of last year and has owned the number one shirt ever since. Great shot-stopper who was timid when he first started, but has now grown in confidence and influence. One of the main reasons why his club, Sporting Braga, challenged for the title this season.

Beto
01.05.82
Porto
1 cap 0 goals
After failing to make the grade at Sporting, Beto dropped down to the lower divisions before securing a dream move to Porto in 2009.

Daniel Fernandes
25.09.83
Iraklis Thessaloniki (Gre)
2 caps 0 goals
Canadian-born player who has spent most of his career playing outside Portugal. Fernandes was capped for Canada at U20 level, but then changed to play for Portugal and made his U21 debut in 2006.

Defenders
Bruno Alves
27/11/1981
Porto
28 caps, 5 goals
Aggressive tackler who leads by example and has become one of the team’s key players. Is imperial in the air, both in defence and attack, scoring a handful of important goals with his head, including a crucial winner in Albania. Also a threat at set pieces. Needs to watch his fiery temper.

Duda
27/06/1980
Malaga (Spa)
18 caps, 1 goal
One of the few elite left-footed players in Portugal and that’s why he has been used at left-back when his natural position is in midfield. Adventurous player who is unquestionably better at attacking than defending. Has spent most of his career in Spain therefore struggles to speak fluent Portuguese.

Miguel
04/01/1980
Valencia (Spa)
53 caps, 1 goal
Once considered to be one of the best right backs in Europe, but lack of discipline and poor form have dealt Miguel’s career a severe blow. Lost his place in the Valencia and Portugal team after becoming overweight. Has recently improved his attitude and performance and could be first choice once more at the World Cup.

Paulo Ferreira
18/01/1979
Chelsea (Eng)
59 caps, 0 goals
Versatile defender who can play across defence and is equally effective as a right or left back. Missed a large chunk of the season due to injury but returned to the Chelsea line-up in the latter part of the season and was in good form.

Pepe
26/02/1983
Real Madrid (Spa)
24 caps, 2 goals
Brazilian-born defender who has enjoyed a meteoric rise in European football ever since making his debut as a teenager for Maritimo. Missed the second half of the club season with a serious knee injury and could struggle to regain his fitness and form ahead of the World Cup.

Ricardo Carvalho
18/05/1978
Chelsea (Eng)
60 caps, 4 goals
Calm and classy central defender who has a knack for being at the right place at the right time. Better on the ground than in the air, but his timing is close to perfect when it comes to tackling. Coming off his most inconsistent season with Chelsea, but still considered one of the best centre halves in Europe.

Fabio Coentrao
11.03.88
Benfica
2 caps 0 goals
Earned his first cap in March and a string of impressive displays as a left-back for Benfica means he can add that role to the one he normally has as a midfielder. Possesses great speed and can drill consistent crosses into the area. Has recently improved his defending.

Ricardo Costa
16.05.81
Valencia (Spa)
6 caps 0 goals
Mainly a central defender, he can occasionally play as a full back. Experienced campaigner who has played in Germany, France and Spain as well as his native Portugal.

Rolando
31/08/1985
Porto
7 caps, 0 goals
Born in Cape Verde and moved to Portugal at the age of 14. Played for the Under-21 national team before a series of impressive displays at Belenenses and then FC Porto earned him a call-up to the senior side. Great in the air, but still has to mature into a complete centre-back.

Midfielders
Danny
07/08/1983
Zenit St Petersburg
8 caps, 1 goal
Born into a Portuguese family, Danny moved to the island of Madeira at a young age from Caracas, Venezuela. Skilful winger who has returned to action following a long injury lay-off. In 2008, Danny was bought by Zenit Saint Petersburg for a fee of €30 million, which made him the most expensive player in the Russian League.

Deco
27/08/1977
Chelsea (Eng)
72 caps, 5 goals
Still known as O Magico or The Magician, but he performs his tricks at a slower pace. This will be Deco’s swan song with the Portuguese national team as the Brazilian-born star has announced he will retire from international football after the World Cup. His flair and creativity make him irreplaceable in midfield and he will be integral to the team’s ability to score goals in South Africa.

Miguel Veloso
11/05/1986
Sporting Lisbon
5 caps, 1 goal
Talented young midfielder who can also play at left-back or in the centre of defence. Was criticized for worrying more about his modelling career than his football, but has since changed his attitude. Son of former Benfica legend Antonio Veloso who earned 40 caps for Portugal.

Pedro Mendes
26/02/1979
Sporting Lisbon
5 caps, 0 goals
Played for his country for the first time back in 2002 but earned only another four caps since. Called up at the end of the qualifying campaign and is one of the few pure defensive midfielders at Queiroz’s disposal. A solid midfielder with good passing skills who also has a powerful shot from distance.

Raul Meireles
17/03/1983
Porto
31 caps, 2 goals
A true box-to-box midfielder who can tackle, pass and score. Inspirational in the centre of the park and scored a crucial winner at Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup play-offs. The most tattooed Portuguese player, no doubt, who was the heart and soul of the FC Porto side who won four consecutive league titles.

Simao Sabrosa
31/10/1979
Atletico Madrid (Spa)
79 caps, 21 goals
Portugal’s vice captain and one of the most influential players in the national team set up. Filled Ronaldo’s boots admirably when the Real Madrid star missed a series of crucial qualifiers through injury. Simao can play as a right or left winger and is a free kick specialist.

Tiago
02/05/1981
Atletico Madrid (Spa)
49 caps, 1 goal
The jury is still out on Tiago when it comes to playing for the national team. Has been handed many opportunities to run the show in midfield, but has constantly flattered to deceive. A great passer of the ball but his lack of speed and questionable work rate mean he will struggle to break into the side.

Forwards
Cristiano Ronaldo (Spa)
05/02/1985
Real Madrid
69 caps, 22 goals
The world’s most expensive player and one of the best to have ever graced football pitches across the globe. Enjoyed a stellar first season with Real Madrid, but has struggled with Portugal, failing to score a single goal in qualifying. Possesses diabolical dribbling skills and is deadly from set pieces.

Hugo Almeida
23/05/1984
Werder Bremen (Ger)
23 caps, 5 goals
If only he could replicate his club form with Portugal… The tall and strong Almeida regularly scores for Bremen in the Bundesliga but has a poor record for Portugal. Confidence in his goal-scoring ability is so low that Queiroz endorsed Liedson’s bid to become a Portuguese citizen.

Liedson
17/12/1977
Sporting Lisbon
7 caps, 3 goals
Brazilian-born striker who has been Sporting’s top scorer every season since signing for Corinthians back in 2003. Known as O levezinho, or the light one, for his small and light frame, but don’t be fooled, he is one of the best headers of the ball in the Portugal team. Scored an important equalizer against Denmark on his debut.

Ruben Amorim
27/1/85
Benfica
10 caps, 0 goals
Late call up to the squad to replace Nani who withdrew on the eve of the tournament after picking up a shoulder injury in training. Has been compared to team-mate Tiago in that both can operate in defensive or attacking midfield.

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