With Paulo Bento slated to announce a 23-man squad this Friday for the Portugal National team’s upcoming games against Luxembourg and Israel, Portugal Football are going to take a guess as to who he will call. These two games are the last two World Cup qualifiers for Portugal, as the team looks to capitalize on a run of good form. Both teams are beatable, and as both games are to be played at home, there will be few excuses if Portugal fail to come up with the points. Because of this and of past actions, Bento will likely call a squad with very few surprises. Here’s what we think:

Goalkeepers

Definites: Rui Patricio (Sporting)

Possibilities: Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (Braga), Anthony Lopes (Lyon)

Outsider: Mario Felgueiras (Cluj)

Defenders

Definites: Pepe (Real Madrid), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Joao Pereira (Valencia), Neto (Zenit)

Possibilities: Antunes (Malaga), Cedric (Sporting), Ricardo Costa (Valencia), Nuno Andre Coelho (Braga)

Outsiders: Sereno (Kayserispor), Andre Almeida (Benfica)

Midfielders

Definites: Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahce), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev)

Possibilities: Andre Martins (Sporting), Adrien Silva (Sporting), William Carvalho (Sporting), Ruben Micael (Braga), Josue (Porto), Ruben Amorim (Benfica), Danny (Zenit)

Outsiders: Paulo Machado (Olympiakos), Custodio (Braga), Manuel Fernandes (Besiktas)

Forwards

Definites: Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Helder Postiga (Valencia)

Possibilities: Nani (Manchester United), Lica (Porto), Varela (Porto), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Eder (Braga), Nelson Oliveira (Rennes)

Outsiders: Amido Balde (Celtic), Wilson Eduardo (Sporting), Pizzi (Espanyol)

 

Predicted Squad

Goalkeepers: Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting)

Defenders: Pepe (Real Madrid), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Joao Pereira (Valencia), Neto (Zenit), Antunes (Malaga), Cedric (Sporting)

Midfielders: Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahce), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev), Andre Martins (Sporting), Adrien Silva (Sporting), Josue (Porto), William Carvalho (Sporting)

Forwards: Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Helder Postiga (Valencia), Nelson Oliveira (Rennes), Lica (Porto), Nani (Manchester United), Varela (Porto)