How Portugal's 2018 World Cup hopes are tied to the fate of its key players at their respective clubs

Imagine you are Fernando Santos for a second. In less than nine months you must finalize the Seleção squad that, captained by Cristiano Ronaldo, will represent a nation bursting at the seams with a diverse array of marketable wunderkinds.

This is both a blessing and a curse, and you realize that poor squad selection may not only prevent Portugal from adding football’s Holy Grail to its trophy cabinet, it may yet damage your reputation despite your team’s victory in France at Euro 2016. Not to mention that top European clubs may or may not always be willing to afford your choice players the requisite playing time in key matches that is essential to their preparation for the World Cup.

These are not insignificant concerns.

Fernando Santos has announced the Portugal squad for the final two Group B World Cup qualifying matches next week.

This list includes notable recalls, such Euro 2016 hero Eder, fellow forward Gonçalo Guedes, midfielder Renato Sanches, left-back Antunes and goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.

Portugal play Andorra away on Saturday 7 October, before welcoming Switzerland to Lisbon three days later in what will almost certainly be a shoot-out to decide who qualifies for the 2018 World Cup directly and who will require a playoff to try and get to Russia.

Santos is refusing to take his eye off the ball in relation to the first match. “We have to be totally focused on Andorra,” he said. “If we’re not, there will be no final [against Switzerland],”

Hungary 0-1 Portugal

In a match that few will revisit as a classic example of Portuguese footballing prowess, the Seleção overcame fiercely stubborn resistance from ten-man Hungary and ran out of Budapest with three crucial points.

André Silva headed home a Cristiano Ronaldo cross in the face of uncompromising treatment from the home side who very nearly snatched a dramatic winner deep in stoppage time.

Just 3 days removed from the resounding 5-1 victory over the Faroe Islands in Porto, Fernando Santos did make several key changes to the starting XI. Despite a wonderful performance on Thursday, William found himself second favorite to Danilo while Fabio Coentrão earned his first cap since October 8th, 2015 in place of Eliseu. 

Portugal take on Hungary on Sunday evening in a crucial World Cup qualifier at the Groupama Aréna in Budapest. 

Victory against the Magyars is vital if Portugal are to stay on course for a showdown against Switzerland at the Estádio da Luz on October 10, a match likely to determine which nation automatically qualifies for Russia 2018.

PortuGOAL’s Matthew Marshall previews the must-win match for Fernando Santos’s European Champions.