RUSSIA 2018: City players’ Group stage schedule
Squad role: Portugal are the reigning European champions, having beaten hosts France 1-0 in the final of Euro 2016. But Bernardo missed out on a spot in the squad due to injury.
They made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2006 yet failed to make it out of the group phase in Brazil in 2014. With Bernardo stepping up for his first taste of World Cup final action, he will undoubtedly be eager to make an impact.
Bernardo will be seen in his usual position on the right wing, and will be expected to flank Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Guedes up front.
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During a recent friendly against Belgium the 23-year-old stepped up to take Ronaldo’s spot alongside Guedes when the Real Madrid forward was left out of the squad.
With 25 caps for his country, Bernardo is relatively early in his international career, but with 53 appearances in his debut season at City alongside nine goals and 11 assists across all competitions the winger could been a key figure in Portugal’s World Cup endeavour.
Fernando Santos’ side are in Group B for the competition and will face Spain, Morocco and Iran in the opening stages.
International highlights: Bernardo has featured for Portugal in a range of competitions as he was chosen to play in the European and World Cup qualifiers, the Confederations Cup in addition to a number of international friendlies.
Although Bernardo first featured in a friendly against Cape Verde, the City star won his first competitive cap during a Euro Qualifying clash against Albania back in September 2015 and has gone from strength to strength since.
This summer’s competition will truly be Bernardo’s time to shine and if last season was anything to go by then he’s going to make his mark!
