Injuries and the fact that Porto and Boavista are in action Monday conspired to create very interesting choices in the squad for the Scotland friendly. With Porto and Boavista playing in the Superliga on Monday, AO did not select any players from these two clubs, meaning Capucho, Costinha, Ricardo, Paulo Ferreira, et. al., miss the game. The strong showing this season by Guimaraes produced call ups for Ricardo Silva and Pedro Mendes. Injuries (Jorge Andrade, Beto, Caneira) have made Portugal’s central defense very thin. Petit also misses the game due to injury. AO indicated that JVP is still not in top form and thus did not warrant a call up. Interestingly, Rui Jorge has been left off the team. Five players won their debut caps with the AA squad, including Ricardo Rocha, Tiago (who has been playing brilliantly for Benfica), Silva and Mendes (Guimares) and Jorge Ribeiro (Varzim). Goalkeepers: Quim Silva (Braga), Nelson Pereira (Sporting) Defenders: Ricardo Rocha (Benfica), Fernando Couto (Lazio), Ricardo Silva (Vitoria Guimaraes), Rui Jorge (Sporting), Fernando Meira (Stuttgart), Jorge Ribeiro (Varzim) Miidfielders: Sergio Conceicao (Inter), Rui Costa (AC Milan), Neca Fernandes (Belenenses), Hugo Viana (Newcastle), Luis Figo (Real Madrid), Pedro Mendes (Vitoria Guimaraes), Marco Ferreira (Vitoria Setubal), Tiago Mendes (Benfica), Luis Boa Morte (Fulham) Forwards: Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Simao Sabrosa (Benfica), Pauleta Resendes (Bordeaux) Porto and Boavista: http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/futb/...804&mf_club=0&num_jog=0&p_sondagem=0&p_voto=0 JVP: http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/futb/...800&mf_club=0&num_jog=0&p_sondagem=0&p_voto=0
Anybody have any info on wether it will be televised. From what I have been able to gather it look slike it will be Setanta Sport closed circuit ppv. I'm really sick of Setanta Sport and RTP. Any time there is a interesting game with our Seleccao it is never aired.
Portugal look very thin in the back. I worried there.....we have the talent to score goals but our defence sometimes becomes shaky(I.E against U.S.A.) How bout cristien ronaldo..........i heard hes doing pretty good for sporting. Or is he to young
Too young. He is only 17, but he will be playing for the U21s. As for the defense, while it is young and relatively inexperienced, a friendly is the perfect opportunity to roll some of these guys out there to see if they have what it takes. The only silver lining for these injuries is that it allows others a chance to shine (or sink). As for the young D, I am very interested to see how Ricardo Rocha holds up at wingback. He has been one of the very best defenders in Portugal this year and deserves a shot.
You got that right.........we should see how some defenders hold up against scotland. When will J. andrade come back from injury though......
Portugal should use all its freindlies to test all and any combinations of players and to try different strategies. We do not need to win ANY games. So why not use this opportunity to the utmost?