Portugal's Pepe Becomes Second Oldest World Cup Outfield Player
Centre-back Pepe will become the second oldest outfield player in World Cup history after he was picked to start for Portugal against Uruguay on Tuesday
Centre-back Pepe will become the second oldest outfield player in World Cup history after he was picked to start for Portugal against Uruguay on Tuesday. The 39-year-old comes in for the injured Danilo, who mysteriously suffered broken ribs, as one of three changes made by Portugal coach Fernando Santos. Cameroon's Roger Milla remains the oldest outfield player to play in a World Cup at USA 1994 aged 42. Two goalkeepers can beat that though.
Essam El-Hadary of Egypt was 45 when he played in Russia 2018 while Colombian shot-stopper Faryd Mondragon was 43 in Brazil 2014.
Nuno Mendes gets the nod over Raphael Guerreiro at left-back for Portugal and William Carvalho comes into midfield in place of Otavio.
Edinson Cavani was picked ahead of fellow Uruguay icon Luis Suarez in attack as coach Diego Alonso switches his formation from a back four to a back three.
Centre-back Sebastian Coates comes in with winger Facundo Pellistri dropping to the bench while Guillermo Varela is picked at right wing-back instead of veteran Martin Caceres.
Starting line-ups in the World Cup Group H match between Portugal and Uruguay at Doha's Lusail Stadium on Monday (kick-off 1900 GMT):
Portugal (4-2-3-1)
Diogo Costa; Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Pepe, Nuno Mendes; William Carvalho, Ruben Neves; Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix; Cristiano Ronaldo (capt)
Coach: Fernando Santos (POR)
Uruguay (3-5-2)
Sergio Rochet; Jose Maria Gimenez, Diego Godin (capt), Sebastian Coates; Guillermo Varela, Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Matias Vecino Mathias Olivera; Edinson Cavani, Darwin Nunez
Coach: Diego Alonso (URU)
Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRI)
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Portugal
Uruguay