Confirmed: Portugal XI to take on Ukraine
Portugal’s starting eleven to face Ukraine this evening has been revealed.
Portugal hosted Luxembourg in the Alvalade last Friday, earning a 3-0 win to take them one step closer to securing their place in the finals next summer.
The clash with Ukraine this evening, though, is even more important, anything less than a win making Portugal's quest of finishing top of the group highly formidable.
Portugal are without both William Carvalho and Rafa Silva through injury, both players were out of contention on Friday, and are also out of the meeting in Kiev too. The former is a particularly significant loss, having been integral to the Portugal national team since Fernando Santos took charge.
Nevertheless, Portugal have fielded a side more than capable of beating Luxembourg, with Wolves shot-stopper Rui Patricio named in between the sticks.
In front of him, Ruben Dias and Pepe are the centeback partners, Pepe returning to the team having missed both of Portugal’s last two outings (vs Serbia and Lithuania) through injury.
At right back, Nelson Semedo is given the nod ahead of in-form Leicester City right back Ricardo Pereira, while on the left, Raphael Guerreiro maintains his place in the squad.
In defensive midfield, Danilo Pereira starts ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ruben Neves, though his club teammate Joao Moutinho does start.
On the right of midfield, Bernardo Silva starts for his country yet again, while Sporting captain Bruno Fernandes is dropped, João Mario starting instead.
Up front, no surprises as Cristiano Ronaldo starts as the focal point in Portugal’s attack, the second striker playing next to him being Gonçalo Guedes.
