Rafa among Fernando Santos' chosen players

Rafa, the Sport Lisboa e Benfica, player, was called up by the national coach, Fernando Santos, for Portugal's matches from Group A of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, against Azerbaijan, Serbia and Luxembourg. 

Rafa, who made his debut with the senior national team on March 5, 2014, has 18 caps and won the European title in 2016. The 27-year-old athlete has 518 minutes plaued in the Portuguese national team. 

Within the squad list, it should be highlighted the presence of six players nurtured at Sport Lisboa e Benfica: João Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Danilo, Renato Sanches, Bernardo Silva and João Félix. 

This cycle of qualification matches kicks off with the home game against Azerbaijan on March 24, in Turin, by health imposition. Next up is the match against Serbia, scheduled for March 27 in Belgrade. Portugal will finish this triple round on March 30 against Luxembourg, in Luxembourg City.

The three matches are scheduled for 7:45 pm.

SQUAD LIST

GOALKEEPERS: Anthony Lopes (Olympique Lyon), Rui Patrício (Wolverhampton FC) and Rui Silva (Granada FC);

DEFENDERS: João Cancelo (Manchester City), Cédric Soares (Arsenal FC), Domingos Duarte (Granada CF), Pepe (FC Porto), José Fonte (LOSC Lille), Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund) and Nuno Mendes (Sporting CP);

MIDFIELDERS: Danilo Pereira (PSG), João Palhinha (Sporting CP), Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United FC), Renato Sanches (LOSC Lille) and Sérgio Oliveira (FC Porto);

FORWARDS: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City FC), Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton FC), Diogo Jota (Liverpool FC), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus FC), Rafa (SL Benfica), João Félix (Atletico Madrid) and André Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt).