By DAN KARELL
Less than a week after announcing its preliminary World Cup roster, Portugal has settled on the final 23 for Brazil.
Headlined by Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Moutinho, and Pepe, Portugal is taking a strong and experienced squad to the 2014 World Cup as it faces Germany, the United States and then Ghana in Group G. The biggest headline of Monday’s roster announcement was that volatile but incredibly talented winger Ricardo Quaresma had not made the final squad, despite making a surprise appearance on the final 30.
The Portugal squad will meet up on Wednesday in Cascais, on the southern coast of the country, and will begin training that day in nearby Estoril. After moving up the coast to Obidos, they’ll face Greece on May 31 in Lisbon in their send-off match from Portugal.
On June 2 the squad will arrive in the U.S. and make their home in New Jersey for the next seven days, training at the New York Jets training facility. On June 6 Portugal will face Mexico at Gillette Stadium and on June 10 they’ll play their final warm-up match against the Republic of Ireland at MetLife Stadium.
Here’s a closer look at Portugal’s 23-man roster for the 2014 World Cup:
GOALKEEPERS: Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (SC Braga), Rui Patrício (Sporting Lisbon)
DEFENDERS: André Almeida (Benfica), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahçe), Fábio Coentrão (Real Madrid), João Pereira (Valência), Neto (Zenit St. Petersburg), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Valência)
MIDFIELDERS: João Moutinho (AS Mónaco), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahçe), Rúben Amorim (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting Lisbon), Rafa (SC Braga)
FORWARDS: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Éder (SC Braga), Hélder Postiga (Lazio), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Nani (Manchester United), Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg)
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