Portugal squad Euro 2008

Guarda-redes:
Ricardo (Betis, Esp)
Quim (Benfica)
Rui Patrício (Sporting)

Defesas:
Bosingwa (FC Porto)
Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea, Ing)
Miguel (Valência, Esp)
Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea, Ing)
Pepe (Real Madrid, Esp)
Bruno Alves (FC Porto)
Fernando Meira (Estugarda, Ale)
Jorge Ribeiro (Boavista)

Médios:
Miguel Veloso (Sporting)
Petit (Benfica)
Raul Meireles (FC Porto)
Deco (Barcelona)
João Moutinho (Sporting)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Ing)
Nani (Manchester United, Ing)
Quaresma (FC Porto)
Simão (Atlético Madrid, Esp)

Avançados:
Nuno Gomes (Benfica)
Hélder Postiga (Panathinaikos, Gre)
Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen, Ale)

*Abscent: Marco Caneira (Valencia); Maniche (Inter Milan)

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Not the strongest squad I've seen...I was expecting more come this Euro. Can only hope Scolari works his magic despite his stubborness.

You have quite a selection of midfielders to choose from there

If Phil has been watching united he will play ronaldo as the poacher to bring another midfielder in

With all those wingers, I think Scolari will continue with his previously tried (and Ferguson's well practised) tactic of Ronaldo playing centrally off the striker. Quaresma and Simao on the right and left respectively, with Deco and one of the DMs in the middle?

Or perhaps more defensively sound, with Ronaldo on the wing (Simao out) and Deco the furthest forward of a 3 man central midfield featuring 2 DMs?

aye, would make sense to me to play Ronaldo centrally. got more & better wing options than striker options.

He's still best for me playing in a front 3, rather than on the right of a midfield 4 or up front in a pair.


--- Ronaldo -----------Quaresma
-------------- Striker

looks impressive, but not as scary as a first thought

its the first time portugal has a great striker with ronaldo

kas wrote:With all those wingers, I think Scolari will continue with his previously tried (and Ferguson's well practised) tactic of Ronaldo playing centrally off the striker. Quaresma and Simao on the right and left respectively, with Deco and one of the DMs in the middle?

Or perhaps more defensively sound, with Ronaldo on the wing (Simao out) and Deco the furthest forward of a 3 man central midfield featuring 2 DMs?

It's all about making it click obviously. Sometimes having too much talent makes it very difficult for a manager as you barca fans can testify to

Mixing the styles of quaresma, simao and ronaldo will be interesting to see.

If he wants to actually utilise width in his game then there is no point putting ronaldo on the wing. There is no glory for him out there so he won't stick to it. I'd imagine an organised and solid team will be too strong for portugal but you just never know what type of form these players could hit

You've all basiclly touched on our main issue: where to play Ronaldo?

Scolari has said he won't necessarily play Ronaldo as a striker... he doesn't think we'd get the most from him playing him strictly up-front... he's taking three strickers and intends to use them (at least Hugo Almeida).

The good thing about our wingers is they can all play both flanks and with Ronaldo's physical characteristics we can push him up when needed and still have great wing play feeding him and perhaps Almeida the ball.

Scolari changes his squad quite quickly...and he probably will.. but for starters here goes:

-----------Petit--------Veloso

----------------Deco---------

Ronaldo-----------------Simao (Quaresma)*

--------------Almeida

*Depends on how Scolair's feeling about these two... if he thinks Quaresma finally has his head on straight I think he'll pick him...he's started as of late.

I think he'll probably start with this line-up as he's a conservative guy by his own omission, but I'm guessing he'll change this soon enough.

Is Nuno Gomes any good these days?

debaser wrote:Is Nuno Gomes any good these days?

Not as a finisher. The man really can't seem to score, which kinda makes him a questionable player...considering his main job is scoring.

He has good link-up play however and that goes well with our style of play at times. I think he's there for his age and experience; he's scored some big goals for Portugal before and you never know what can happen during a tourney.

We have enough young guys that have never played a tourney before...Scolari know we need some guys that have been there before.

How will the defence line-up?

Paulo Ferreira has played at leftback on a few occasions for Portugal hasn't he?

Pepe and Carvalho at centreback sounds as good as any International pairing.

God I feel sorry for Andrade. Such a class act.

Nice looking squad though. Miguel has also started to play well again, so healthy competition for the RB spot.

Not impressed at all,I would of chosen Manchie over Petit yes Manchie hasn't played regularly for a while but he has been one of our best players in the last two major tournaments(Euro 2004,WC 2006).

Scolari will let politics dictate his selection for the first match i.e like Euro 2004 when it goes wrong he will change it and as for the front three it should be Simao/Ronaldo/Quaresma but it won't be due to politics.


The Defence will be Miguel/Pepe/Carvalho/Bosingwa

Hahah I got this selection live cause of a portuegese friend of mine, he was pissed of for not selecting maniche...especially cause he always scores against us...

Fey wrote:Hahah I got this selection live cause of a portuegese friend of mine, he was pissed of for not selecting maniche...especially cause he always scores against us...

Paulo Ferreira


No place for Pro-Evo legend Makukula ?

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Paulo Ferreira


No place for Pro-Evo legend Makukula ?

They prefer Postiga and the ageing Gomes who will go the same way as Pauleta

EMPortuguese wrote:Not impressed at all,I would of chosen Manchie over Petit yes Manchie hasn't played regularly for a while but he has been one of our best players in the last two major tournaments(Euro 2004,WC 2006).

Scolari will let politics dictate his selection for the first match i.e like Euro 2004 when it goes wrong he will change it and as for the front three it should be Simao/Ronaldo/Quaresma but it won't be due to politics.


The Defence will be Miguel/Pepe/Carvalho/Bosingwa

I'm with you on Petit, was actually about to post that very same thing; at least Maniche has been playing...Petit hasn't played at all and he isn't half the player Maniche is.

As for the front line and defence I think you're off. Ronaldo won't be played as a striker and I can't see Bosingwa playing LB... has he ever played that position at all? (Not to my knowledge)

Bosingwa RB, Ferreira LB.

I was hoping for Yannick... the only Portuguese forward with pace... not also playing as a winger.

Course I knew it wouldn't happen

Luso wrote:

EMPortuguese wrote:Not impressed at all,I would of chosen Manchie over Petit yes Manchie hasn't played regularly for a while but he has been one of our best players in the last two major tournaments(Euro 2004,WC 2006).

Scolari will let politics dictate his selection for the first match i.e like Euro 2004 when it goes wrong he will change it and as for the front three it should be Simao/Ronaldo/Quaresma but it won't be due to politics.


The Defence will be Miguel/Pepe/Carvalho/Bosingwa

I'm with you on Petit, was actually about to post that very same thing; at least Maniche has been playing...Petit hasn't played at all and he isn't half the player Maniche is.

As for the front line and defence I think you're off. Ronaldo won't be played as a striker and I can't see Bosingwa playing LB... has he ever played that position at all? (Not to my knowledge)

Bosingwa RB, Ferreira LB.

Petit doesn't play no more oh dear and Luso you know what? Petit will be in the first team its a joke.

I can't see Miguel not starting its impossible he is a Felipao Favorite

Luso if Ronaldo does not play through the middle where would the goals come from?

Luso wrote:I was hoping for Yannick... the only Portuguese forward with pace... not also playing as a winger.

Course I knew it wouldn't happen

Yannick is a striker i thought he was a forward,Luso i don't see Yannick being used as the lone striker

I've already put Petit in the first line-up...I'm pretty sure about that.

Almeida will get his chance up front, and he deserves one too... he's been good for Bremen.

Moving Ronaldo further forward during a match is more challenging for the opposition to handle than to start with that formation. He'll be getting forward enough anyways...there's no need to take away his ability to start the plays.

Putting Ronaldo up front limits his game... he needs to be allowed to do it all. If things don't go our way, in comes another winger and Ronaldo moves forward.

EMPortuguese wrote:

Luso wrote:I was hoping for Yannick... the only Portuguese forward with pace... not also playing as a winger.

Course I knew it wouldn't happen

Yannick is a striker i thought he was a forward,Luso i don't see Yannick being used as the lone striker

He's a striker for Sporting and he's been scoring plenty as of late.
I didn't say we should play Yannick alone up-front for Portugal, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be in the squad; neither Postiga nor Gomes should be played as lone strikers either and yet they've been included.

Scolari is always the same, selecting players that doesn´t play at their clubs

The Ricardo selection is always the same joke, he can have one leg less he will be selected above any keeper. Hell he doesn´t even play at their club, hes been playing Cr@p for so long and still he must be a cousin or something of Scolari. Quim is by far the best for a long time, Patricio is a good choice for 3rd.

No left winger is as always another crazy Scolari selection. So we have 3!!!! right backs and one that can be used as LF but it is not his natural position.

I agree Petit is past his best days but the problem is we do not have many choices. Pele is very young and with little experience, Maniche even playing a little bit is far from his prime too but peraphs i would select him too.

The centre midfield and wing selections are the ones that were expected.

Well watching the Postiga/Nuno Gomes selection it isn´t difficult to find someone better, even with the striker shortage we always have. Even Yanik would be an improvement. The only one i think it is a good selection is Almeida to play with our quality wingers and to keep the oposition defence alert.

Can Veloso play LB?

Calidad wrote:Can Veloso play LB?

Even if he can, it is an adaptation.

Anyone confident of Portugal’s chances? At the moment I believe they are one of the favourites.

Calidad wrote:God I feel sorry for Andrade. Such a class act.

Nice looking squad though. Miguel has also started to play well again, so healthy competition for the RB spot.

I'm shocked that Maniche isn't there. Is a true big game player, and every team needs a Lampard type, like it or not.

Pro, 'even' Yannick? Do you really think so lowly of him?

Maniche is a big loss IMO, as is Caneira.

Of this squad, I think I question Nuno Gomes and Petit the most.

Protheus wrote:

Calidad wrote:Can Veloso play LB?

Even if he can, it is an adaptation.

But as far as adaptations go.... (he is naturally left footed and with a good ability to go forward and cross).