Ok this is big news. Simao deixa Seleccao. http://www.ojogo.pt/Directo/NoticiaHora_futselsimaodeixaselnacional_270810_286831.asp
Barring injury crises, and CQ retarded subs, Euro 2012 is a wrap hypothetical team -----------------Correia (Bebe) lol)--------------- ----------------------Ronaldo---------------------- Nani-----------------------------------Quaresma------ ---------------Veloso/---Meireles/Santos/Fernandes----- Coentrao/Evaldo----Alves/Pepe--Carvalho/NAC/Carrico/--Bosingwa/J.Pereira--- ---------------------Eduardo aka the Wall of doom--------------------- also Almeida is gettin pretty decent lately imo had a solid WC and lookin good for bremen. I guess hes hitting his prime Bebe is an X Factor Varela, Nani, Quaresma, x factors: Salomao, Vierinha NAC, Andre Santos its gonna be a GRANDE Equipa Final do Campeonato da Europa 2012 PORTUGAL 2-1 ESPANHA A.E.T. (Torres 41, Bebe '81, Ronaldo 119')
Vieirinha and Paulo Machado deserve their chances. both have been performing at the highest level for their clubs the past year or so, and vieirinha has been "rocking it" as Joelzinho so elequantly puts it so far this season. Looking forward to the callup on sunday, and thank God Simao is gone, classy guy but didnt perform to well on the pitch when really needed in tourny's. Ronaldo Nani Varela Resurgent Quaresma Vieirinha Bebe/Salomao in U-21. Me thinks Portugal is ok there.
A little biased What we do know: *Eduardo is our #1 keeper *Our back four is set: Coentrao/Alves/Carrico/Bosingwa - there are options, Pereira, NAC for sure. *Ronaldo/Nani are the best tandem, but playing Quaresma on the same pitch would be an offensive machine. *Don't forget players like Machado, Vieirinha, Andre Santos could be looked at.... looks promising.
Carrico over Carvalho!!! Dont think so, in the future yes but no chance in the near future. NAC is a good player and may mature into a class player but we have much better options coming through. Im very happy Simao has retired, never played consistently well for portugal, hopefully varela and vieirinha are given a chance
Carvalho still has enough in the tank for 2012.....in 2014 Carrico will be the starter barring injury. As for Simao...he did a great service for the NT for many years and while not being the game breaker he was always that guy that gave you a good performance. Worked hard and was a leader....its good now that he stepped aside and gave guys like Nani and Varela a chance to showcase their abilities.
Too much Simao bashing for my liking, granted he did not carry the NT but in term of doing what he can he did (as above.)
LOL a little Sporting bias in the last few posts. Many random names (especially at D) but no Rolando?? Whether you like him or not, he'll be there. LOTS of options. Players like NAC & Andre Santos won't get serious looks. Look at this logjam. GK: Eduardo--Beto--Fernandes--Patricio LB - Coentrao (none other needed lol) RB - Bosingwa/J. Pereira (Hopefully not but 1 of Miguel/Costa/Ferreira might still be around in a bench role) CB - Alves/Pepe/Carvalho/Rolando/Carrico Midfield: Tiago, Veloso, Micael, Meireles, Fernandes, Moutinho Wings: Ronaldo, Varela, Quaresma, Nani, Forwards: Almeida/Bebe/Silva/Correia/Djalo/Saleiro Major things here: 5 good CB's there but no way we take 5 - 4 yes. Rolando/Carrico, 1 of them will miss out. Unless Pepe/Carvalho retire prior to. RB - Hopefully Bosingwa is still serviceable in 2012. If not, I'm sure (hope) Joao Pereira will continue to improve and be good Midfield: Pretty crowded. No way they take those six. One of Micael/Fernandes/Moutinho will miss out. Probably Fernandes or Moutihno. Wings: Very talented. Varela certainly will be there barring major injury. Quaresma seems resurged and I believe has earned the right to another NT chance. Forwards: Liedson gone of course. Almeida will still be here. Surely one of those young guys will step it up and earn a spot.
When your club produces Two Ballon D'or's then maybe you can say something. RESPECT GRANDE SPORTING CLUBE DE PORTUGAL - PRIDE OF LISBOA
Your academy produces players with potential and are smart enough to know when to leave a club that wins nothing. While i have great respect for what sporting does for portuguese football its probably to their detriment.
Paulo Ferreira retires from the NT http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8957097.stm
Simao and Paulo Ferreira both retired to let the young guns take over. This is a new regime people, now if only we could get rid of Madail and Queiroz and bring in some common sense. Play to our best abilities....
Ricardo Carvalho = captain for the match against Cyprus replaces Ronaldo TEMPORARILY while he is injured. http://abola.pt/nnh/ver.aspx?id=220490
I read that, wtf, sweet that Carvalho is captain and all but replacing Ronaldo?? What happened to what Quieroz said about him getting the captaincy too early and losing it?
Seems simple enough: Ronaldo injured= someone has to be the captain. Good choice in Carvalho. When Ronaldo returns, all signs point to him re-assuming the captaincy. There was huge uproar around here to replace Ronaldo as captain until he demonstrates a propensity to lead our team, myself included. But at the same time we have NO IDEA what goes on behind closed doors. I've maintained throughout that there is no questioning the passion Ronaldo has in playing for his country. It's fact. Perhaps the added responsibility of captain should be someone else's while Ronaldo is allowed to be himself. I fear the mistake has already been made and there's no looking back. Either way, it's the TEAM that will win or lose. Ronaldo as captain just makes it alot easier commercially for our national team.
Ronaldo shouldnt be captain, he has hardly played well since being the captain... he has enough responsibility as it is, being branded as the star player and all but yeah we dont know what goes on behind closed doors, mourinho says ronaldo is captain material but then again mourinho always toots the horns of his own players.