4th final round for veterans
When asked about his veteran Pepe, Portugal national coach Fernando Santos had to smile briefly. “He’s a monster,” said the 68-year-old then, “just a monster.” Despite his age, the centre-back, known for his aggressive style of play, is still an important part of the Portuguese national team. Aged 39 years, nine months and two days, Pepe is expected to play in his fourth World Cup on Monday, making it one of the top 15 oldest players in the history of the competition. If you exclude the goalkeepers from this ranking, the defender is even the third oldest outfield player in World Cup history behind Cameroon’s Roger Milla and Canada’s Atiba Hutchinson.
Neuer, Godín & Co.: The oldest participants in the 2022 World Cup
Pepe had missed Portugal’s opening game against Ghana (3:2), on Monday (from 8 p.m. in the TM live ticker) against Uruguay he should be in the starting XI. “He will play and play a very important role,” Santos said of the 129-time international from FC Porto. After 2010, 2014 and 2018, it will be Pepe’s fourth participation in the World Cup. Unforgotten in Germany is the appearance of the FC Porto defender at the start of the 2014 World Cup, when he received a red card against Germany and lost his selection 0:4.
Opponents Uruguay also know the robustly playing veteran whose real name is Képler Laveran Lima Ferreira very well. “We all know Pepe,” said Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur ahead of the game. “He’s an extraordinary player. The game against him and Portugal will be a good test for us. We have our own weapons.” Uruguay drew their first match in Group H against South Korea.
To home page