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Portugal names final 2014 World Cup roster

Paulo Bento has his squad for the World Cup, where they are grouped with the U.S.

Bryn Lennon

Portugal has named their final 23-man World Cup roster and there are no major surprises. Paulo Bento will lean upon all of the same players that got him to the World Cup, which means Cristiano Ronaldo and 22 other guys.

The most notable absence from Bento's squad is Ricardo Quaresma, but Quaresma hasn't played for Portugal since 2012 so it's not a surprise that he didn't make the team. Bento has filled the team with his usual crew, which may or may not be their best team -- Danny is one of a few players who are probably part of Portugal's best, but were left out -- but they are the players who fit what Bento wants to do.

Originally, manager Paulo Bento wasn't going to bother with a 30-man announcement and would just name his final team, but he did name a preliminary roster last week. Now it looks like that was just a formality and he had his final 23-man team in mind the whole time because the team is just convening for training camp and hasn't played a friendly yet, but they already have a team.

Portugal's first friendly will be at home on May 31 against Greece. They will then travel to the United States, where they will play a pair of friendlies ahead of the World Cup.

The U.S. plays Portugal in their second World Cup group stage match, one that looks intimidating for the Americans, but really isn't. Portugal barely qualified for the World Cup, finishing behind Russia in their group then leaning on an unreal Ronaldo performance in the playoff against Sweden. Of course, Ronaldo could always put his country on his back against the U.S., but Portugal aren't an excellent team and the Americans will have their chances.

Goalkeepers: Beto (Sevilha), Eduardo (SC Braga), Rui Patrício (Sporting)

Defenders: André Almeida (Benfica), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahçe), Fábio Coentrão (Real Madrid), João Pereira (Valência), Neto (Zenit), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Valência)

Midfielders: João Moutinho (Mónaco), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahçe), Rúben Amorim (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting), 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)