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Scolari calls on more fresh faces

May 22nd, 2007 | By: Luis | 16 Comments »

Are you ready to rumble? It’s been a long wait but international football is just around the corner. In addition to the usual excitement of seeing our boys in action, this time around we will be introduced to three fresh faces. Big Phil Scolari has included three previously uncapped players for Portugal’s qualification match with Belgium on June 2 and a friendly in Kuwait on June 5.

With Simão, Nuno Gomes and Ricardo Carvalho injured and C. Ronaldo forced to sit out the match in Belgium, Scolari included Bruno Alves, Bosingwa and Duda in his call up list.

“All of the new players are making interesting progress at their clubs and we would like to see them perform in the national squad. We have some injuries and Ronaldo suspended so I thought this was the right time to bring in new players,” said Scalori.

Full List

Goalkeepers: Ricardo (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Daniel Fernandes (PAOK FC), Quim (SL Benfica)

Defenders: Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart), Jorge Andrade (RC Deportivo La Coruña), Bosingwa (FC Porto), Miguel (Valencia CF), Caneira (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea FC)

Midfielders: Deco (FC Barcelona), Petit (SL Benfica), Hugo Viana (Valencia CF), João Moutinho (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Duda (Sevilla FC), Tiago (Olympique Lyonnais)

Forwards: Hélder Postiga (FC Porto), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), João Tomás (Al-Rayyan), Nani (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto)

Tags: callup list, Portugal, Scolari

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Comments

By Nelson | May 22nd, 2007 at 12:11 pm

need attackers on the list luis

By Luis | May 22nd, 2007 at 12:23 pm

Oops…thanks Nelson.

Posted from United States

By Nelson | May 22nd, 2007 at 1:42 pm

you are welcome luis, and thank you for running the blog.

By Nelson | May 22nd, 2007 at 1:44 pm

ok. other than Deco, Andrade and Miguel. Who starts where?

By O Grande Trinco | May 24th, 2007 at 11:08 am

Nelson,

well Ricardo still auto starter.
since Ronaldo and Simao cannot start, Quaresma is now an auto starter IMO. As long as he can stay out of all night partying (thereby getting in PS’s doghouse), he is 1st choice sub for winger (if not starter)

other than that probable but not 100% locks in their position would be

Meira as 1st choice sub in central defence.
Petit/Tiago 1st choice trinco picks

Everything else is up for grabs IMO.

Posted from Canada

By O Grande Trinco | May 24th, 2007 at 11:11 am

lol, after reading my post, maybe I should just state which positions are open for the taking:

LB
Striker
4th choice winger

and to a lesser degree the Trinco players will continue to face competition for their spots.

Posted from Canada

By steven | May 24th, 2007 at 11:56 am

why is maniche still being left out in the cold?

Posted from United States

By Nelson | May 24th, 2007 at 11:59 am

Maniche is injured I believe.

By steven | May 24th, 2007 at 12:47 pm

oh rite, its just i saw him play for atletico madrid last sunday. wots evry1 think of joao tomas recall to the squad? does this show the desperate situation for strikers portugal have atm?

Posted from United States

By Ceasar | May 24th, 2007 at 4:13 pm

I think you’ll find that Tiago plays in Maniche’s role. So him and Petit are starters for sure. Deco in his usual creative mid position (the number 10 spot on field).
Yes with Simao and CR out, that means Quaresma should be a shoe-in for the winger role.
The big questions are really what Big Phil will do at striker? Does he go with Almeida or Postiga? Based on history I’d say Postiga starts and Almmeida comes in as sub.
On defense we will probably see Meira as Carvalho’s replacement with Miguel and Andrade and Ferriera filling out the rest.

Posted from Canada

By steven | May 24th, 2007 at 4:49 pm

i agree with the comment above, with nani on the other wing perhaps? wud like 2c almeida at sum stage tho.

Posted from United States

By Nelson | May 25th, 2007 at 11:40 am

Would love to see Nani on the other side of the ball. I think tiago and petit are locks as well. I do not like our choice of central defencemen at all though.

By Nelson | May 30th, 2007 at 4:15 pm

And Nani and Anderson signed with ManU. Don’t know about that, but it may be real crowded for these guys in the field.

By Pedro P | May 31st, 2007 at 8:27 am

They can both play wide or central attacking mids. CR plays naturally wider, or played, than either of these two. Anderson is very good. Man Utd made two great signings. Guess he could be just as good as #10. Nani is a wide attacking mid, but while in SCP - they played with 3 att mids and one holding mid + 2 strikers - he played #10, wide, etc… I say he’s best playing wide but not necessarily running all the way to the touchline, like CR. Less pace, more grace. Nani’s style is very similar to Figo’s.

BTW, Caneira got injured and will not play this weekend against Belgium. Antunes, U21 will replace him.
http://www.ojogo.pt/Directo/NoticiaHoraModalidades_CaneiraSeleccao3105_19926.asp

PT strikers are a problem, already since Eusebio…

Posted from Netherlands

By Nelson | May 31st, 2007 at 2:24 pm

Ok we are three days away. I want to see who people are picking as the starting XI plus a final score prediction.
I’ll go first
GK Ricardo
ST Postiga
AM Nani Quaresma
MID Deco Tiago Petit
DEF Andrade, Miguel, Ferreira Meira.
Final 2-1 The good guys

By Luis | June 4th, 2007 at 9:45 am

Nice call on the final score Nelson.

Posted from United States

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