The 25 players who will try to take Portugal to the World Cup for the first time
The National Team faces, on February 22, in the New Zealand city of Hamilton, the winner of the duel between Thailand and Cameroon, in the final of the intercontinental play-off for access to Australia / New Zealand 2023.
Francisco Neto, national coach, announced this Thursday, in Cidade do Futebol, the call-up for the intercontinental play-off for access to the Women’s World Cup.
Of the 25 players chosen, the absolute debut of Ana Seiça, a 21-year-old centre-back from Benfica, stands out.
It should be recalled that the National Team, ranked 22nd in the FIFA ranking, will compete, on February 22, at 6:30 am in Mainland Portugal, in the New Zealand city of Hamilton, the final of the intercontinental play-off, against the winner of the duel between Thailand and Cameroon, to, for the first time, try to be present in the final phase of a World Cup. Before the decisive match, the Portuguese team will play a preparation game, in the same place, at 06:00, against New Zealand, on the 17th.
The Quinas team comes from a new record of consecutive victories, after having won the last six challenges – victories against Serbia, Turkey, Belgium, Iceland, Haiti and Costa Rica -, and intends to continue this series of invincibility in a to guarantee a ticket for the 2023 World Cup, which will take place in Australia and New Zealand, from 20 July to 20 August.
After having been present in the final stages of the 2017 European Championships, in the Netherlands, and 2022, in England, Portugal is one step away from yet another unprecedented feat, which, if it comes to fruition, will catapult Portuguese women’s football to another level.
Check out the list of 25 called:
Goalkeepers: Inês Pereira, Patrícia Morais and Rute Costa;
Defenders: Ana Seiça, Carole Costa, Catarina Amado, Diana Gomes, Joana Marchão, Lúcia Alves and Sílvia Rebelo;
Middle: Ana Rute, Andreia Norton, Andreia Jacinto, Dolores Silva, Fátima Pinto, Kika Nazareth, Tatiana Pinto and Vanessa Marques;
Forwards: Ana Borges, Ana Capeta, Carolina Mendes, Diana Silva, Jéssica Silva, Kelsey Araújo and Telma Encarnação.