Portugal Predicted Starting Line-Up

Portugal will be looking to book their place in the final of Euro 2016 – which would be their second ever European Championship showpiece – in Wednesday’s semi-final against Wales.

Here are the eleven players that coach Fernando Santos is likely to deploy:

Goalkeeper: Rui Patricio

Barring the bizarre 3-3 draw with Hungary, Portugal have defended reliably in Euro 2016, and much of that is down to the calming influence of experience Sporting Lisbon shot stopper Rui Patricio.

The 28-year-old marshals his defence superbly well, is reliable when dealing with crosses and has the added bonus of being a renowned penalty saver. He is a certain pick for the match.

Defenders: Cedric, Pepe, Jose Fonte, Eliseu

Santos has chopped and changed his defenders throughout the tournament, but two picks that must be confirmed are Real Madrid centre back Pepe and Southampton man Jose Fonte, who deposed Ricardo Carvalho early in the competition and hasn’t looked back since.

Left back Eliseu replaced Raphael Guerreiro for the Poland match and was solid enough, and as such should have done enough to keep his place. At right back, Cedric will offer a threat going forward as well as reliability in defence.

Midfield: Joao Mario, Joao Moutinho, Renato Sanches

The loss of William Carvalho to suspension would have been costly had the Portuguese not had the experienced Joao Moutinho to call upon in that defensive midfield role. He will be joined by Sporting’s Joao Mario, who has been an ever present so far, in protecting the back four.

Further forward, teenage sensation Renato Sanches – who has just signed a £30m deal taking him to Bayern Munich, will look to build on his goal-scoring performance in the quarter final against Poland.

Attack: Nani, Adrien Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo

Nani is a reliable presence on the flank, and with two goals in Euro 2016 he will be asked to take some of the goal-scoring responsibility from Ronaldo. On the other wing it is thought that Adrien Silva has done just enough to keep out Ricardo Quaresma, his side’s hero in the last 16 encounter against Croatia.

Up front Ronaldo will be given a free role as he looks to kickstart a tournament in which he has returned just two goals and a pair of assists.