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Portugal
And Queiroz calls… 23 + 1
Comments(47)
While images and names flashed before my eyes as the final list of players to head for the Covilhã training camp was announced it was obvious Carlos Queiroz would manage to pull a couple of surprises out of his sleeve. Not one. Not two, but a merry total of three. These surprises go by the names of José Castro, Ricardo Costa and Daniel Fernandes. Yes we had seen them on a previous list of 50 but surely they were there to fill the gaps!? Apparently not.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Lets go over this list of 24 one more time:
Atlético Madrid: Simão Sabrosa, Tiago
Benfica: Fábio Coentrão
Chelsea: Deco, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho
FC Porto: Beto, Bruno Alves, Raul Meireles, Rolando
FC Zenit: Danny
Iraklis FC: Daniel Fernandes
Lille: Ricardo Costa
Málaga: Duda
Manchester United: Nani
RC Deportivo: Zé Castro
Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe
Sp. Braga: Eduardo
Sporting: Liedson, Miguel Veloso, Pedro Mendes
Valencia CF: Miguel
Werder Bremen: Hugo Almeida
Just to recall my personal choice from a previous post:
Goal-keepers: Eduardo, Quim, Beto
Defense: Ricardo Carvalho, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Paulo Ferreira, Fábio Coentrão, Miguel, Ruben Amorim
Midfield: Maniche, Deco, Raul Meireles, Pedro Mendes, Tiago, Miguel Veloso, Carlos Martins
Offense: Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Simão, Liedson, Makukula, Danny
Out go: Quim, Ruben Amorim, Carlos Martins, Maniche and Makukula
To make way for: Daniel Fernandes, Duda, Rolando, José Castro, Ricardo Costa and Hugo Almeida
I did hesitate between Makukula and Hugo Almeida so I can’t criticize CQ on that one. Maniche had pretty much ruled himself out after an interview last year and it even came as a surprise CQ was still considering him (was he really?). I also knew he wouldn’t just drop Duda. After all he did come through for us during qualifying (by the skin of his teeth).
That leaves us with:
Out: Quim, Ruben Amorim and Carlos Martins
In: Daniel Fernandes, José Castro, Ricardo Costa, Rolando
Curiously all players adjacent to the word “Out:” are from Benfica. Now lets first get this out of the way: I’m NOT a Benfica supporter. The club that speaks most to my hart is Beira-Mar from my local town, Aveiro. When I came to Portugal as a young boy I was told I had to choose one of the big 3 to be able to support a title contender. And so I started supporting Porto. Thus its now obvious I supported Quim, Ruben Amorim and Carlos Martins completely based on my vision of merit. Nothing else. No blind-sightedness on account of club-colors.
First off CQ called up an extra player, just in case Pepe isn’t that fit after all. Ricardo Carvalho is also on the rebound from an injury. So one of these lads will not set foot on a plane to South-Africa. And by “one of these lads” I mean José Castro or Ricardo Costa. But with Queiroz who knows!? He could well leave Miguel Veloso stranded (replace last name with any name just springing to your mind).
Quim must have done something terrible after letting in 6 goals against Brazil. I can’t remember if he was to blame for any one of them. I don’t think so. Come to think of it I don’t think he did a single save during the game. Still… he wasn’t to blame. It was more of a tactical blunder then anything else. Did Quim step up to Queiroz after the match to let the load of his chest… verbally? It was his last appearance for the Selecção. He went from starter to completely erased from any national team gathering ever since, and this was way back in November 2008.
Ricardo Costa is touted to be a very versatile player. Able to play any defensive role. Both wings as well as central defender. He’s still crap… in my book. I’d much rather have Ruben Amorim. Also very versatile and we already have to many defenders on the team. Ruben does midfield as well.
José Castro he’s… errrr… well you know it’s because… errrr… and he also… hmmmmm… you know.
Who fills Deco’s shoes should we need to? Do we have any player on the squad with the vision and passing skill to feed the likes of Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo as they do their diagonal sprints into the box? Deco doesn’t last 90min. I know Carlos Martins doesn’t either but that’s why it would work. When one runs out of steam, in comes the other. Perfect setup. Apparently not.
Well at least Queiroz didn’t announce his starting eleven like Maradona did. How is that for building a group spirit?! 22 Men thinking they would rather be on vacation instead of working their asses off so the announced 11 can start the game. What a shot in the foot.
I’ve heard some very outrageous comments on the net and in the newspapers regarding Queiroz’s choices. Everything from “I’m not supporting this team!” to “I’d rather we never qualified then make a fool of ourselves at the world cup!”. Some nag about the presence of Luso-Brazilians. Some bitch about to many Porto players. Some moan about to few Benfica players. I DON’T GET YOU PEOPLE! GET WITH THE TEAM! THEY WILL MAKE US PROUD!!!!!!
I don’t agree with Queiroz on some of his choices, but the core we need to make it happen is there. Does a snowball stand a chance of survival in hell? No it doesn’t! And what makes you think WE are the snowball?!! We are hell mate! And our fire will burn ever so brightly!!!!
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24 days to go :/ suddenly i’m not excited about the champions league final anymore :/ eventhough i love murinho
nothing beats the excitment and suspense of the world cup 
breaking news guys: after 6 years of supporting this team i finally bought the flag!!! finally i can cheer in style(H) 
Posted from 
France
Christano Ronaldo better not be as big as a ball hog as he has been with Real Madrid. He is my favorite player but lately hes been not a team player. If he can work with his teammates he could bring Portugal to another World Cup Final or better win the World Cup. GO PORTUGAL!
Posted from 
Germany
i think ronaldo will be a great team player against brazil, but maybe not so much against north korea, i think in that game he’ll try to score as many goals as possible, i hope he doesn’t, but everybody knows how much CR thrives for goals, like dracula on blood juice!!!
Good point Joe,
But to put it in another perspective, what CR’s mates do is going to be more important. During many games, players just pass it to CR and stop their runs waiting for him to do it all, they need to get moving and ask for the ball back.
Also sometimes for the NT, CR wants to do it so much he heaps the responsibility upon himself and tries to do to much, he needs to trust in his team-mates that they can do it too.
Finally, reports of Hilton and Kardashian going to South Africa. CQ needs to ban “business time”, then the World Cup will be a lock.
Posted from 
Canada
Portugal’s calibre make them are hot favourites to go all the way. If you’re coming to SA you might like to check out http://www.findyourway2010.co.za
Who are portugal’s first choice full backs. Is Paulo Ferreira still the first choice on the right and who is going to cover for him. And who is on the left…?
I’m guessing it will be Carvalho and Pepe in the centre back roles with Alves as cover, but the full backs….??? major concern
Posted from 
United Kingdom
No Pepe if healthy is DM Carvalho (if Healthy) and Alves are first choices CB.
Posted from 
United States
The team CQ will almost surely select is as follows:
‘ Eduardo
Miguel Carvalho Alves Duda
Deco Pepe Meireles
CR Liedson Simao
Ferreira is definitely backup on RB
Coentrao may steel LB spot, however neither he nor Duda are left-backs, but leftwingers who play back for NT. At least Coentrao has played quite a bit at leftback for Benfica this year though.
Nani might steal Simao’s spot.
Posted from Canada
completely agreeing with OGT
simao is net doing as i expected with atletico medrid!!
neither in the europa league final or in the copa del rey final that happened an hour ago!!! he cracks under pressure too easily for a player of his skills and experience. 
nani should take his place !
I REALLY REALLY HOPE WE BEAT BRASIL, JUST PLEASE, …after what Dunga said about how brasil are gunna play brasil’s ‘b-team’ ..i got so annoyed.. Dunga is an obnoxious piece of work..
let’s put them in their place boys!!!!!!!!
FORÇA PORTUGAL!!!!!!!! alleeez!, allez!, allez!, allez! ..allezzzz!!, allez!
the diff between the current National team and the team we had at the 2006 world cup is that our team does not scare the lesser nations anymore.. we struggled consistently in qualifying to dispose the lesser teams.we used to beat this teams easily in qualifying under scolari.
The selection of CQ teams was clearly based on his personal fav and not on form or playin regularly for their clubs . the likes of deco and paulo ferreria, pepe, carvalho to name a few has not been in the best of forms or played regularly.
If the argument is that these players has always played well for the NT and are quality players. The squad should have included players such as maniche, nuno gomes, mouthino.
Posted from 
Singapore
I think CQ will play the team OGT lists. But I do still hope he’ll realise that Danny and Nani deserve to be in ahead of Deco and Simao. They are creative and exciting (not to mentioned under-rated) and can make the difference. We need magic and flair in the team to win as I don’t think we’re going to out-do the strong Ivory Coast or the disciplined Dunga-Brazil with a boring game.
And we won’t have a chance without Pepe. The man is a beast, and gives us real power in midfield. I just hope he gets fit…
Posted from United States
today we meet cape verde …. anything less than an extremely easy win is unacepptable!
Posted from 
Lebanon
Just a passing thought… but why do some country (one of which is portugal) still having friendlies on June 8, 3 days before the WC start? I’m not sure what to think of it… is it going to be filled with some sort of “B” side or something? Because having to play a game 3 days before a grueling schedule in WC can be a disadvantage isn’t it? Not to mention there’s always a chance for a player to get injured… I just don’t get it, anyone can explain this to me >.<
the do not play their first game until the 15th or so.
Posted from United States
Queiroz has his 11, I’m sure, but he’s using these games to tune alternatives. Nothing wrong with that. Some players have lots of miles on their legs, but some don’t.
How ’bout that new Nike commercial eh? Hope it turns out that way.
Forca Portugal!
Posted from United States
hmmm…first half against Cape Verde was tepid at best.
Posted from United States
Crap team, crap manager this is going to be worse than 2002 and 1986.
0-0 against CABO VERDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! are you serious??
before the 2006 WC we played a friendly against Cabo Verde aswell and we beat them 4-0 …and now what? 0-0?!?!
speechless absolutely speeeeechless
Poor start, but it’s all about momentum now. One reason why, I think, Queiroz opted for so many friendlies. If this continues in the coming friendlies, we’re in trouble.
Posted from United States
I dont know about you guys but I just have a funny feeling about 2010. Look it up, we pretty much have the same group as a previous world cup with a potential second round match up and we (portugal) did good that year. You have heard it here first. I predict that portugal will win the 2010 WORLD CUP.
Posted from Canada
Do you remember a team that struggled to find its form in exhibition games leading to the Euro in Portugal. They tinkered with players and formation getting results just like these because winning isn’t important yet. If you have ever played, it is about getting the formation down. Once the foundation is set, it becomes second nature until then they work on it. Hence the weaker teams to practise against. They have the skills, they need to get the formation set. If not early exit, if they do look out!!!
Here (http://www.mixin.com/users/worldcup_portugal/) is the schedule of Portugal matches… they will be great if anybody wants to add some fotos or vidéos^^ 
Posted from France
Portugal needs to play as a Team -the Problem is the Team is full of millionaires all trying to hard to impress the world of their individual talent, and forgetting that the Team must play together in order to achieve the goals- the 2010 final cup
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Posted from
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