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Big Phil Releases Portugal Squad
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It’s about that time, with each of the Euro 2008 squads slowly being announced, often coinciding with the end of the domestic seasons. Portugal finished up their domestic season yesterday – Porto won it sometime back in January, or something – and thus Luiz Felipe Scolari has taken today to make and break some hearts.
The biggest omission easily lies with Maniche, currently on loan at Inter from Athletico Madrid. Despite not being a failure at Inter, he hasn’t exactly been a regular, either, with just 4 starts and 4 appearances off the bench since January. Not exactly enough to convince Big Phil to toss him into a talented squad. And if he’s got a bit of a sibling rivalry, his brother, Jorge Ribeiro, has got the upper hand because he’s in the squad. Hope family gatherings are civil.
The quantity plus quality clearly lies in the attack, where it’s about the wingers (Portugla? Who knew?). Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Quaresma, Simao and Nani will bring a touch of flair, I’m sure.
The two names to look out for? Probably Sporting’s duo of Miguel Veloso and Joao Moutinho, two unquestioned stars in the making despite SL’s struggles in the league this year. And in the back Chelsea fans will get to take a look at new signing Boswinga, who now makes CSKA London the most Portuguese non-Portuguese team being represented with three (Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira the others). And this post-Mourinho. Raise your hand if you saw that coming.
The full list:
Goalkeepers: Ricardo (Real Betis Balompié), Quim (SL Benfica), Rui Patrício (Sporting Clube de Portugal).
Defenders: Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea FC), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea FC), Bosingwa (FC Porto), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Jorge Ribeiro (Boavista FC), Miguel (Valencia CF), Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart), Pepe (Real Madrid CF).
Midfielders: Petit (SL Benfica), Deco (FC Barcelona), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Clube de Portugal), João Moutinho (Sporting Clube de Portugal).
Forwards: Nuno Gomes (SL Benfica), Simão Sabrosa (Club Atlético de Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC), Nani (Manchester United FC), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto), Hélder Postiga (Panathinaikos FC).
Hope you´re right.
Posted from 
Netherlands
I also hope your right Jack. Remember that having a host nation in our group really means that us the Cech’s and Turkey are fighting for 1 spot?
The way I see it the first game will decide all. We have to beat Turkey to have a chance. What do you guys think?
Posted from 
Canada
GROUP A
TURKEY FAKERS
CZECH FAV
PORT – 2ND
SWISS- SLEEPER
GRB
AUSTRIA- SLEEPER
POLAND FAKERS
CROATIA 2ND
GERMANS FAV
GP C
ROMINA- FAKERS
ITALY FAVS
HOLLAND SLEEPER
FRANCE 2ND
GR D
GRECCE FAV
RUSSIA SLEEER
SPAIN 2ND
SWEDEN FAKERS
Ceasar, I think that everybody is underestimating both this group, as well as Switzerland, big time. Not that they´re all that strong on paper. On paper they´re weaker than GER, ITA and FRA. But “on paper” theories don´t win cups. The greeks showed it very well, just like the danish some time ago.
Each team playing home is always stronger. SWI aren´t that weak and I see them with just as many chances of going through as all the others in group A. Turkey and the Czechs play attacking and strong football. I don´t think PT is particularly stronger than them but because they play attacking, they give spaces and we might capitalize on that.
Idealy, we´d play SWI with 2 wins on the bag, so the result wouldn´t matter. I also don´t see that happening easily. But it´s surelly possible and that´s what we have to fight for. Actually we have to fight for winning every match.
FORÇA PT!!!
Posted from Netherlands
Pedro knows what he is tlaking about. I could easily see the swiss pulling out a draw. Also Turkey will be no easy opponent. The Czechs could beat Portugal. Unfortunetely for the portuguese I think a third place finish in the group is very possible.
Posted from Canada
That’s exactly what my concern is and why I think that first game is so vital. Traditionally group games are tight low scoring ties. That’s not a good thing for us. We need to win that first, period. Then we control our destiny. Loose or draw and we start to need help from other results.
I’m with Pedro, the Swiss are a strong team and my money says that they will go thru. Turkey is beatable because they tend to open up and not stiffle us and that’s a good thing. But Scolari has to make sure we come out all guns firing….
Posted from Canada
Problem is we have 1 month to come up with a lot of theories. After match #1, they usually stop making sense. After match #2 they´re totally obsolete… 
I also say a victory against Turkey is essential. It´s 50% of going through. PLUS, the Czechs aren´t usually strong in world cups but they´re very dangerous in eurocups.
They kicked us out in the quarters in 96, like we kicked Turkey out in 2000 in the semis (we also beat them in 96 but this was groups), and reached the semis in 04 – we would have played them in the Final, if there hadn´t been the “greek effect”.
Fortunatelly for us (I hope), we have this historical edge against Turkey PLUS Scolari having beaten them twice in World Cup 2002. 
Posted from Netherlands
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portugal is a force to be reckoned with at the euro2008.
ronaldo at his best can push this very far by himself. don’t forget the other talent on the team….