Portugal vs Ghana World Cup lineup, starting 11 for Group H match at Qatar 2022

The noise will finally stop for Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo when Fernando Santos’ side begin their 2022 World Cup campaign against Ghana.

Ronaldo’s dramatic departure from Manchester United has dominated the build-up to the Selecao’s Group H opener against Ghana and Piers Morgan’s most recent interview subject will now look to do his talking on the pitch

Otto Addo’s squad has seen plenty of turnover of late, meaning the tournament’s lowest-ranked nation could be something of an unknown quantity.

Ghana head into the World Cup in patchy form, although they enjoyed a confidence-boosting friendly win over Switzerland in Abu Dhabi last week.

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Portugal vs Ghana lineups

Diogo Jota and Renato Sanches were the headline injury victims unable to make Santos’ squad, but the veteran tactician can still call upon a plethora of attacking talent.

A 4-0 win over Nigeria in their final pre-tournament friendly suggested Portugal might be ready to throw off some of their more pragmatic stylings. Ronaldo sat out that game with illness but is ready to return.

Ghana will look to Mohammed Kudus for inspiration and the Ajax playmaker certainly will not be over-awed by facing Ronaldo.

In a friendly against Brazil earlier this year, he clashed with Neymar. “He’s not better than me. He’s just a higher profile player, that’s all,” Kudus told The Guardian. “He was defending his country and I was defending mine. I wasn’t about to let him push me around.

Below are the starting lineups for both teams for their match at Stadium 974 on Thursday, November 24.

Portugal starting 11

Portugal probable (4-1-4-1, right to left): 22. Costa (GK) — 2. Dalot, 3. Pepe, 4. Dias, 20. Cancelo — 14. Carvalho — 11. Joao Felix, 8. Fernandes, 10. Bernardo Silva, 15. Leao — 7. Ronaldo

• Injured: Nuno Mendes
• Suspended: none

Santos faces a bit of a coin toss for his starting goalkeeper and Porto’s Diogo Costa might get the nod over long-serving No 1 Rui Patricio. In veteran defender Pepe and Ronaldo, the Portugal XI is still likely to boast a couple of cap centurions.

According to Portuguese sports paper Record, Santos is toying with the idea of fielding the attacking midfield quartet of Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Rafael Leao behind Ronaldo.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes is a doubt. If he doesn’t make it, expect Joao Cancelo to start at left-back, with Diogo Dalot in the other full-back position. 

Ghana starting 11

Ghana probable (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Ati-Zigi (GK) — 2. Lamptey, 18. Amartey, 4. Salisu, 17. Rahman — 5. Partey, 6. Owusu — 13. Afriyie, 10. A. Ayew, 9. J. Ayew — 19. Williams. 

• Injured: Sulemana, Kyereh
• Suspended: none

Both Kamaldeen Sulemana and Daniel Kofi Kyereh have been named in Ghana’s World Cup squad despite injury concerns.

Expect both Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan, to both start in this one, along with recent call-ups Tariq Lamptey and Inaki Williams.

Portugal vs Ghana World Cup squads

Here are the 26 names on each team’s squad lists at the World Cup in Qatar:

Portugal

Ghana

READ: MESSI & RONALDO: DESTINATION MUNDIAL | THE FULL SERIES