Football: Portugal drop Euro hero Eder

LISBON: Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal at the Confederations Cup in Russia but there is no place for European Championships hero Eder.

Coach Fernando Santos kept faith largely with the squad that stunned hosts France last summer to win the Euros thanks to an extra-time strike from Eder.

But the forward paid the price for a poor season with the French side Lille and was replaced in the 24-man squad by Porto's Andre Silva.

Portugal play Mexico, hosts Russia and New Zealand in Group A at the Confederations Cup, which begins on June 17.

Before that the same squad will play a World Cup qualifier at Latvia on June 9.

Portugal squad

Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (Sporting), Beto (Sporting), Jose Sa (Porto)

Defenders) : Nelson Semedo (Benfica), Cedric Soares (Southampton/ENG), Pepe (Real Madrid/ESP), Bruno Alves (Cagliari/ITA), Luis Neto (Zenith/RUS), Jose Fonte (Southampton/ENG), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Eliseu (Benfica)

Midfielders: William Carvalho (Sporting), Danilo Pereira (Porto), Joao Moutinho (Monaco/FRA), Pizzi (Benfica), Joao Mario (Inter Milan/ITA), Andre Gomes (Barcelona/ESP), Adrien Silva (Sporting), Bernardo Silva (Monaco/FRA)

Attackers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/ESP), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas/TUR), Gelson Martins (Sporting), Andre Silva (Porto), Nani (Valencia/ESP)