16-Ricardo Pereira (Boavista) Born: 11.02.76
A physically strong keeper who is not easily intimidated in the area. Boavista's winning of their first ever Portuguese league title last season was the launch pad he needed to get a chance in the national squad:

15-Nelson Pereira (Sporting Lisbon) Born: 20.10.75
Tall and certain, he won his place when Joaquim "Quim" Silva was suspended. Silva tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone. Pereira replaced team-mate Tiago Ferreira at Sporting eight games into their victorious league campaign.

Defenders:
4-Marco Caneira (Benfica) Born: 09.02.79
Centre-back on loan from Inter Milan who is at home anywhere in the back four.

5-Fernando Couto (Lazio) Born: 2.08.69
Captain and central defender. He is a powerful, uncompromising player. His prowess in the air has also brought him a number of important goals. Returned to the Portuguese squad last October after a four-month suspension for nandrolone.

13-Jorge Andrade (Porto) Born: 9.4.78
A tireless performer who likes to support the attack. Like Couto, he is excellent in the air.

2-Jorge Costa (Porto) Born: 14.10.71
Rock on which team defence is mounted. Calm under pressure and an uncompromising tackler, he has also scored some important goals from set-pieces and corners.

18-Nuno Frechaut (Boavista) Born: 24.09.77
Effective and fast. A fine crosser of the ball from the wings.
   
22-Beto Severo (Sporting Lisbon) Born: 03.05.76
Fine header of the ball at set-pieces and dangerous in corners and freekicks near the opponents' area. Has scored a number of vital goals.

23-Rui Jorge (Sporting Lisbon) Born: 27.3.73
Easily moves into attack and his medium-to long-range shooting has brought him some crucial goals.

3-Abel Xavier (Liverpool) Born: 30.11.72
Experienced defender who moved from Everton to arch rivals Liverpool. He has also played in Italy, Spain and the Netherlands as well as Portugal. Has the speed to break down the right flank and cross. He returned to the squad in February 2001 after serving a seven-month suspension for excessive protest when he conceded a "golden goal" penalty in Portugal's Euro 2000 semi-final loss against France

Midfielders

17-Paulo Bento (Sporting Lisbon) Born: 20.6.69 0.
Unspectacular ball-winner who has been vital in the midfield as counter-weight to the creative talents of Luis Figo and Rui Costa. He also served a UEFA five-month ban following the protests during the Euro 2000 semifinal with France.

14-Pedro Barbosa (Sporting Lisbon) Born: 6.8.70
Makes up for lack of speed with fine positional sense and tremendous technique.

8-Joao Pinto (Sporting Lisbon) Born: 19.8.71
The biggest Portuguese star still playing in the domestic league. Fast and highly-skilled, the "little genius" likes to play just behind the front runners. Played in both Portugal's
1989 and 1991 under-20 World Youth Cup winning teams.

12-Hugo Viana (Sporting Lisbon) Born: 15.1.83 0.
The "baby" of the squad with a sweet left foot and great vision. Touted as a future Luis Figo.

10-Rui Costa (AC Milan) Born: 29.3.72
Possesses wonderful technique. Authoritative and creative player, capable of dictating the pace of a match. Loves scoring from outside area.

20-Armando Petit (Boavista) Born: 25.9.76
A warrior who has great powers of anticipation. Has a fine shot.

6-Paulo Sousa (Espanyol) Born: 30.8.70
A much-transferred veteran who has suffered from injury in recent years. Won the European Cup in successive seasons with two different teams - Juventus and Borussia Dortmund in 1996 and 1997. A ball-winner and fine passer but who is no longer guaranteed a place in the starting line-up.

11-Sergio Conceicao (Inter Milan) Born: 15.11.74
Very fast and likes to play close to the touchline. Usually deployed in midfield but likes to come forward as much as possible. Used to play for Lazio.

Forwards

19-Nuno Capucho (Porto) Born: 21.2.72
A winger who possesses fine close control and explosive pace. Something of the eternal substitute who is more likely to start games on the bench. Has a powerful shot. Another member of the so-called "golden generation" that one the World Youth Cup.

21-Nuno Gomes (Fiorentina) Born: 5.7.76
Hugely mobile, his star performance in Euro 2000 earned him a transfer from Benfica to Serie A side Fiorentina, although the Italian club's financial problems have left him unsettled. Scored seven goals in Portugal's last three qualifying games after coming on as a substitute each time.

9-Pauleta (Girondins Bordeaux) Born: 28.4.73
Top scorer in Portugal's qualifying group two with eight goals. Quick on the shot and a fine header of the ball.

7-Luis Figo (Real Madrid) Born: 4.11.72 .
FIFA's World Player of the Year in 2001. Widely considered one of the all-time greats of European soccer. Although he is probably at his most dangerous when he clips in his teasing crosses from either wing, he is almost as lethal when he cuts inside and unleashes his own fierce drives. In summer 2001 he stole the headlines with a then world record $56 million defection from Barcelona to arch-rivals Real Madrid.