Fernando Santos includes Alvalade five for Confederations Cup

The national team coach Fernando Santos has included a total of five Sporting CP players in his squad of 24 for the coming friendly, World Cup qualifier and Confederations Cup fixtures.

The five are Rui Patrício, Beto, William Carvalho, Adrien Silva and Gelson Martins, who will face Cyprus on the 3rd of June (friendly) and Lithuania (World Cup qualifier), before travelling to Russia for the Confederations Cup.

Portugal beats Hungary to keep up the pressure on Switzerland

The national football team continued in strong form in their World Cup 2018 qualification campaign this weekend, beating Hungary 3-0 in Estádio da Luz.

Rui Patrício and William Carvalho were in the starting line-up as usual and the Sporting CP keeper had a quiet night, making just a single stop in a dominating Portuguese showing.

Sporting CP's youth system of course dominated the squad, with six out of a total of 14 players featuring produced by the Sporting Academy: Cédric, José Fonte, João Mário, Ricardo Quaresma, João Moutinho, Rui Patrício and William Carvalho.

William Carvalho in long chat with Sporting TV and the Sporting Journal

William Carvalho sat down with Sporting TV this week for an extensive interview, covering everything from the midfielder's most nervous moments to the importance of spells out on loan.

SPORTING – In a recent interview you said that you felt nervous on three occasions: your debut for Sporting CP, your first cap for Portugal and the final of Euro 2016. How about now, is this another occasion?

WILLIAM CARVALHO – [Laughs] No, I wouldn't say that. This is something that I always do, so I am used to it.

It is easier to make a successful tackle or talk with a journalist?

[Laughs] tackling. I feel natural when I am on the pitch.

What about in training, do you still get the odd butterfly?

Training is normal for me after so many years.

How about out on the pitch then? Do you still think about your debut?

Not really, but I feel the same responsibility of representing a big club that I did on the first day.

Your made your debut in 2010/11, against Guimarães (replacing Matías Fernández in the 89th minute). You then went out on loan with Centro Desportivo de Fátima (six months) and then Cercle Brugge (one and a half seasons). What that important for you?

Yes, it was. With Fátima I actually played as a central defender for five or six matches, which I wasn't used to. I adapted well and it was good for my experience.

Would you say that it is important for the younger players in the squad to spend time out on loan? João Palhinha, Daniel Podence or Francisco Geraldes, for example.

Of course. They were on loan for half of the season and they gained a lot of maturity and experience. Today they bring extra quality to the squad.

So how much can a player actually grow in that kind of situation?

On the pitch you can a lot, because you play a lot. That is the only way a player gets better. Sometimes at a club as big as Sporting CP we don't have a lot of opportunities, so it is better to go out on loan and come back stronger.

We recently heard that when we take you our of your comfort zone (the Sporting Academy)... well what about in the kitchen?.

[Laughs] Well I can do the basics.

Alvalade trio in action for World Cup 2018 qualifier

Liga NOS will enjoy an international break after this weekend's action, with a World Cup 2018 qualifier between Portugal and Hungary scheduled for the 25th of March in Estádio da Luz and a friendly against Sweden in Funchal. 

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício (Sporting CP), Anthony Lopes (Lyon) and Marafona (Sp. de Braga);

Defenders: Nelson Semedo (Benfica), João Cancelo (Valencia), Bruno Alves (Cagliari), Luís Neto (Zenit), José Fonte (Southampton), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Pepe (Real Madrid), Eliseu (Benfica) and Cédric Soares (Southampton);

Midfielders: William Carvalho (Sporting CP), Danilo Pereira (FC Porto), Pizzi (Benfica), Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich), João Mário (Inter Milan), André Gomes (FC Barcelona) and João Moutinho (Monaco);

Forwards: Bernardo Silva (Monaco), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Gelson Martins (Sporting CP), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Éder (Lille) and André Silva (FC Porto)

Adrien and William Carvalho highlight the squad's confidence and clarify Bruno de Carvalho's visit to the dressing rooms

Alvalade skippers spoke with the press this weekend following Saturday's draw with Chaves, looking ahead to the coming Portuguese Cup tie against the same team.

"On Tuesday the only thing we can think about is winning. We know it will be a hard game against a well organised team, but we are motivated. We are all frustrated by bad results, but we have been putting the work in and we will carry on doing so", affirmed Adrien at the final whistle, followed by William Carvalho in the same tone: "We are all feeling motivated, despite not getting the result we wanted. Of course we feel frustrated, but I am sure we will respond well."

In relation to news in the press, the midfield pair guaranteed that nothing our of the ordinary took place in the dressing rooms at the final whistle with president Bruno de Carvalho. "Let me take the opportunity to clarify what is being said: the president came to the dressing room to show his dissatisfaction and as the captains of the team we spoke with him, that's all", said Adrien, with William adding: "While there are still points to win, we will believe in ourselves, because we are good enough. the president came to the dressing room to speak about the result, but it was a normal conversation. We listened to him and I am sure that on Tuesday we will go out there and get a good result."

William Carvalho and Gelson Martins on Tuesday's Champions League encounter

"Obviously playing with less numbers is hard, but honestly I didn't see what happened", said William Carvalho at the final whistle on Tuesday, before reflecting on Sporting CP's European campaign so far this season: "We have done well, despite not getting into the next round. The fans have really been behind us and we have to thank them for that."

Gelson Martins again attracted the limelight with another classy performance and the young winger was also sought after by the press at the final whistle. "We started well and we equalised. We didn't get the result but I thought we reacted well to the occasion. I didn't see what happened (in relation to the sending off of João Pereira), but it made things harder for us", said Martins, adding a word on the praise aimed at him by Zidane: "I won't get carried away by it, but of course I am happy. Real Madrid looking at me doesn't bother me. I have five years left on my contract with Sporting CP and I intend to see them out."

Rui Patrício, Adrien, William and Gelson all given the green light for Lithuania

National team coach Fernando Santos released his squad list for the coming World Cup 2018 qualifier against Lithuania this week.

A total of four Sporting players feature in the squad of 24 Rui Patrício, Adrien, William Carvalho and Gelson Martins.

Squad list in full:

Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Marafona (Sp. Braga) and Rui Patrício (Sporting CP);

Defenders: Bruno Alves (Cagliari), Antunes (Dynamo Kiev), João Cancelo (Valencia), José Fonte (Southampton), Luís Neto (Zenit), Nélson Semedo (Benfica) and Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund);

Midfielders: André Gomes (Barcelona), Adrien Silva (Sporting CP), Bernardo Silva (Monaco), Danilo Pereira (FC Porto), João Mário (Inter de Milão), Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich) and William Carvalho (Sporting CP)

Forwards: André Silva (FC Porto), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Éder (Lille), Gelson Martins (Sporting CP), Pizzi (Benfica), Nani (Valencia) and Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas).

William Carvalho highlights Dortmunds's effectiveness in front of goal

"We will respond in our next match", affirmed William Carvalho after Sporting's 2-1 loss to Dortmund on Tuesday night, on Champions League matchday 3.

Reflecting on the action, the Sporting midfielder added: "We did well, but they had two chances and scored two goals in the first-half. Football can be like like. In the second-half we had a lot of chances, but we didn't make the most of it. It was a harsh result, but we still believe we can qualify."

President praises Adrien, Rui Patrício and William Carvalho

In a publication on his official Facebook page, Bruno de Carvalho showered Alvalade's captain's with praise, affirming that they "are the best in the world in their positions" and that is in honour to have them in Alvalade.

Portugal to face Gibraltar (friendly) and Switzerland (World Cup qualifier)

Rui Patrício, William Carvalho, Adrien and João Mário all feature in Fernando Santos' squad for two coming fixtures.

Portugal will take on Gibraltar next Thursday, before facing Switzerland on the 6th of September in a World Cup qualifier.

Goalkeepers

- Rui Patrício (Sporting CP)
- Anthony Lopes (Lyon)
- Eduardo (D. Zagreb)

Defenders

- João Cancelo (Valencia)
- Cédric (Southampton)
- Pepe (Real Madrid)
- Bruno Alves (Cagliari)
- José Fonte (Southampton)
- Luís Neto (Zenit)
- Raphael Guerreiro (B. Dortmund)
- Eliseu (Benfica)

Midfielders

- William Carvalho (Sporting CP)
- Danilo (FC Porto)
- João Moutinho (Monaco)
- Adrien (Sporting CP)
- André Gomes (Barcelona)
- João Mário (Sporting CP)
- Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich)

Forwards

- Rafa Silva (Sp. Braga)
- Bernardo Silva (Monaco)
- Nani (Valencia)
- Quaresma (Besiktas)
- Éder (Lille)
- André Silva (FC Porto)