Portugal predicted lineup vs Morocco - World Cup quarter-final

Portugal face Morocco on Saturday afternoon in the country's first World Cup quarter-final since 2006.

Fernando Santos' miraculous managerial career at the helm of Portugal's national team had another chapter written on Tuesday night. The Selecao romped past Switzerland to the tune of 6-1 without the country's all-time top scorer, and Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves joined Cristiano Ronaldo on the substitutes bench on a night when Santos' big calls emphatically paid off.

It may be a case of same against the Atlas Lions, who sprung a huge surprise in the round of 16 to eliminate Spain on penalties. Here's the XI Santos, who has won the European Championship and Nations League during his tenure, may deploy in a bid to reach Portugal's first World Cup semi-final since 1966.

Portugal record against Morocco (4-3-3)

Bruno Fernandes has a joint-competition high three assists this winter / Francois Nel/GettyImages

GK: Diogo Costa - The Vitor Baia fantasist has already gotten further in the World Cup than his idol ever could.

RB: Diogo Dalot - Santos may have conceded that "Cancelo is a fabulous player" but he still dropped him against Switzerland, turning to the fullback that plies his trade on the red half of Manchester.

CB: Pepe - The second-oldest goalscorer at a men's World Cup is still three years shy of Roger Milla's outrageous record of 42 years young.

CB: Ruben Dias - Captain of Portugal's Under-19s and Under-20s, it is only a matter of time before Dias leads out the senior team - especially if the current captain continues to be overlooked.

LB: Raphael Guerreiro - A goalscorer against Switzerland on Tuesday, Guerreiro has already beaten Morocco's number one Yassine Bounou this season, scoring the first in Borussia Dortmund's 4-1 romp against Sevilla in the Champions League this October.

CM: Otavio - Muscular problems limited his involvement in the group stage but Otavio has emerged as a versatile scrapper for Portugal since switching allegiances from Brazil when he was already 26.

CM: William Carvalho - The man dubbed 'Sir William' during his days at Sporting CP brings a regal air to Portugal's midfield, scarcely breaking out of a trot.

CM: Bernardo Silva - The Manchester City midfielder enjoyed the most prolific season of his Premier League career in 2021/22 but is yet to take a single shot in Qatar.

RW: Bruno Fernandes - Described by his former Manchester United teammate Juan Mata as "football sick", such is his obsession with the sport.

ST: Goncalo Ramos - The first player to score a hat-trick on their maiden start at a men's World Cup since Miroslav Klose in 2002 has scored more knockout round goals than Ronaldo and Lionel Messi combined.

LW: Joao Felix - The 2019 Golden Boy winner hasn't enjoyed quite the success expected of a player voted as the best footballer under the age of 21.

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