Saints Marching
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Southampton: Cedric features as Portugal beat Algeria

By Chris Hughes

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - JUNE 30: Rui Patricio (L) of Portugal is congratulated by his team mate Cedric Soares (R) after their team's win through the penalty shootout in the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter final match between Poland and Portugal at Stade Velodrome on June 30, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - JUNE 30: Rui Patricio (L) of Portugal is congratulated by his team mate Cedric Soares (R) after their team's win through the penalty shootout in the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter final match between Poland and Portugal at Stade Velodrome on June 30, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /
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Southampton right-back Cedric Soares played the duration for his national side once again as they beat Algeria in their final pre-tournament friendly.

The game marked Cristiano Ronaldo’s 150th senior appearance for the national side, but it was another forward who stole the show as Goncalo Guedes scored a brace from the left-hand side.

Bruno Fernandes scored in-between his teammates two goals to send the home side en route to victory, as the young midfielder capped a brilliant domestic season with his first goal for the national side.

Cedric played the full 90 minutes on the other side as right-back, reaffirming the fact that he will almost certainly be first-choice for the World Cup ahead.

Portugal could yet have a solid tournament but their first game of the World Cup in Russia in against 2010 winners Spain, before games against Morocco and Iran conclude their group stage matches.

Next: Saints linked with young English duo

KIEV, UKRAINE – MAY 26: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool on May 26, 2018 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
KIEV, UKRAINE – MAY 26: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool on May 26, 2018 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) /

Portugal may not seem as good a side as they have previously been, but they have plenty of young talent who could flourish at this tournament. In addition to yesterday’s goal-scorers Guedes and Fernandes – who are 21 and 23 respectively – the senior side also have players like Ruben Dias and Andre Silva heading to Russia.

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As a result, a good tournament could easily put Cedric on the map and earn him a move to a bigger European team – previously only Juventus were the only side outside of England to be loosely linked with the 26-year-old.

Some Southampton supporters have already suggested that both Cedric and his partner-in-crime Ryan Bertrand could be moved on this summer – despite making the cut with his national side the former hasn’t had a great campaign with the Saints having struggled to survive in the Premier League for the best part.

However the right-back is still hugely talented and it seems Fernando Santos rates the defender higher than Leicester City new boy Ricardo Pereira, Barcelona’s Nelsen Semedo and teenage defender Diogo Dalot, who has just signed for Manchester United.

The World Cup in Russia begins next Thursday afternoon with Portugal’s game against the Spanish the day after.

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