Teenage sensation Sanches gets the nod as Portugal announces Euro 2016 squad
In 2004, Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portuguese national team had the European Championship cruelly snatched away from them by the underdogs from Greece. Now, three iterations of this tournament later, they'll attempt, once more, to claim the continent's biggest prize.
Head coach Fernando Santos announced Tuesday the 23-man roster that will compete in France this summer. Tuesday's decision was mainly a straightforward one for Santos, with the exception of left full-back Fabio Coentrao, who is out with injury.
Os 23. #Euro2016 @UEFAEURO pic.twitter.com/tXdDjAleeZ
— selecaoportugal (@selecaoportugal) 17 de maio de 2016
Ronaldo is joined up front by familiar attackers Nani and Ricardo Quaresma as well as by a trio of midfield youngsters, Renato Sanches, William Carvalho and Andre Gomes.
The complete 23-man provisional squad is as follows:
Goalkeeper: Rui Patricio (Sporting CP), Anthony Lopes (Olympique Lyon), Eduardo (Free agent)
Defenders: Pepe (Real Madrid), Jose Fonte (Southampton), Ricardo Carvalho (AS Monaco), Eliseu (Benfica), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg), Cedric (Southampton), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce), Raphael Guerreiro (Lorient)
Midfielders: Nani (Fenerbahce), William Carvalho (Sporting CP), Danilo (FC Porto), Joao Mario (Sporting CP), Adrien Silva (Sporting CP), Andre Gomes (Valencia), Renato Sanches (Benfica/Bayern Munich), Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Rafa (Braga)
Forwards: Eder (Lille), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas)
Portugal was drawn into Group F with Iceland, Hungary, and Austria and opens its campaign on June 14 against Iceland in St-Etienne.