Força Portugal

Goalkeepers: Beto (Sevilla FC), Rui Patrício (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Eduardo (SC Braga).

Defenders: André Almeida (SL Benfica), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahçe SK), Fábio Coentrão (Real Madrid CF), Pepe (Real Madrid CF), João Pereira (Valencia CF), Ricardo Costa (Valencia CF), Neto (FC Zenit).

Midfielders: João Moutinho (AS Monaco FC), Miguel Veloso (FC Dynamo Kyiv), Raúl Meireles (Fenerbahçe SK), Rúben Amorim (SL Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Rafa (SC Braga).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid CF), Éder (SC Braga), Hélder Postiga (SS Lazio), Hugo Almeida (Beşiktaş JK), Nani (Manchester United FC), Silvestre Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (VfL Wolfsburg).

Team is likely to be Rui Patricio in goal; Pereira, Bruno Alves, Pepe and Coentrao across the back; Meireles, Veloso and Moutinho in midfield with Ronaldo, Postiga and Nani up front. 

That's as strong a team as we've sent to a major tournament since the 'Golden Generation' peaked as runners up at Euro 2004, and of course includes this happy trio, fresh off winning the Champions League:

Paulo Bento has the team playing in a much clearer system than we've had in the past few years and it suits the best players. Providing the backline can keep their shit together the ability of the midfield, Moutinho in particular, to transition the ball forward quickly and get Ronaldo in front of goal is a decent Plan A. 

Using our strength at fullback to attack with width is the other option, but breaking teams down tends to be a problem and their is a massive burden on Ronny to score goals. 

As per usual we're in a pretty sticky group, but I legitimately think we can make a run at the semifinals, before succumbing 1-0 to a far better team.

Does look a good starting XI. Why so much trouble in qualifying? Just a tough confed?

Not particularly, just a lot of complacency against the smaller teams, past few qualifications have been similar.

So you reckon they'll up their game at the Cup proper? They're such an interesting proposition - not least because they have one of the best players in the world.

Round of 16 at best.

Invariably have over the past decade, I think we'll get out of the group with a degree of comfort, and from there probably won't see the likes of Spain or Germany until the semi-finals where taking on a far more effective unit will be a bridge too far.

With you there Oska. I reckon we'll see another tournament where sides base their play on the counter-attack and Portugal have one of the most potent squads in that regard, good in transition, pace and skill on the flanks and strikers who can finish, even if they're not great at anything else. If Ronaldo takes the one or two chances that will fall to him each game they could go far, but the midfield could get outplayed by the best sides.

Watched the warm-up against Ireland earlier today - a comprehensive 5-1 win against a pretty sluggish Irish outfit. 

Ronaldo logged a crucial 65 minutes, which will do wonders for his match fitness. He wasn't at his sharpest in terms of his touch, and did little running with the ball, however his movement off the ball was good, he hit one good freekick against the post, was willing to take on players from the start and put Coentrao through with a wonderful backheel for the second goal. He'll definately be the weapon we need against Germany. Pepe played maybe 20 minutes too. 

Coentrao was our best player for me, defended and attacked well for the full 90 (I'm surprised he played a whole game) and got himself a lovely goal and assisted an own goal. 

Huga Almeida started up front and scored twice, and looked very hungry. I have expected Helder Postiga to be first choice, and in the past have seen Almeida as a lumbering waste of space. On the basis of today, however, he should start. He looked sharper than Postiga who replaced him with 30 or so to go, and provides a pretty useful physical presence. His lack of pace isn't too much of an issue as the wide players are relied on to run the counterattacks. 

Varela was also on good form, provided excellent crosses for two of the goals, tracked back really well which is important as Ronaldo is allowed to stand around after losing the ball and Nani won't work back as hard. What Nani showed when he came on, however, is a much bigger direct goal threat than Varela - the one he scored which was disallowed for offside was a backheel off an incredible team move. 

Finally, the midfield is looking decent - William Carvalho was an outstanding defensive presence, but also played some pretty incisive forward passes. Meireles and Moutinho weren't terrific but those three players provide a good mix of physicality, energy and craft.

Feeling much better about our prospects after that, however I've seen USA and Ghana play in the past few days and they look a lot stronger than I was expecting. Should be a fascinating group.

Here's one shot of the disallowed goal:

The title of this thread - "Forca Portugal!"

Must be Portuguese for "Portugal is F**ked"

It means strength.

Can someone photoshop in a tear drop or something. Or perhaps a big fat turd cause that's what they laid.

Not enough "forca" for Portugal who once again had Ronaldo and a couple of decent players but otherwise were pants.

This animated video sums up their World Cup:

Ronaldo: "Where's the ball?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZPSmMuNNm0