Ruthless Queiroz wields axe in first Portugal squad

Quaresma, Ricardo, Petit and Postiga all dropped

Carlos Queiroz’s first Portugal squad contains several notable changes in relation to the Scolari era. Ricardo, Quaresma, Petit and Helder Postiga have all been dropped. Wingers Danny and Duda and goalkeepers Eduardo and Daniel Fernandes have been called up.

Portugal play the Faeroe Islands next Wednesday in the national team’s only warm-up match before the World Cup qualifying campaign begins at the start of September.

Recalled to the squad after occasional appearances are Carlos Martins, Antunes and Manuel Fernandes, as well as Duda. Rui Patricio and Miguel Veloso drop down to the U21 team.

Debutants’ joy

Dinamo Moscow wide man Danny and Braga goalkeeper Eduardo, both selected for the first time, were overjoyed to make the squad.

“I received this call-up with great joy and enormous emotion,” said former Sporting player Danny. “It’s with great pride that I rejoin the family of the Selecção, this time in the senior squad, and receive this vote of confidence from the coach.”

Goalkeeper Eduardo, who many feel was unlucky to miss out on the Euro 2008 squad, was equally delighted to get the nod from Queiroz. “It’s the happiest day of my sporting life. From when I was a kid I dreamed about playing for my country, building a good career, with lots of effort and work.


Related: Portugal’s World Cup Qualifying schedule
Your Say: Comment on Carlos Queiroz’s first squad


“Today was the culmination of this work, but I don’t want just one call-up. I want to stay in the squad. What got me in the squad? All coaches have their criteria. I think I’ve been working well and this was the result of my endeavour,” said the keeper who was so impressive on loan at Setubal last season.

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo is not selected as he is recovering from injury after his recent ankle operation.

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers: Quim (Benfica), Eduardo (Braga), Daniel Fernandes (Bochum)

Defenders: Bosingwa (Chelsea), Miguel (Valencia), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Fernando Meira (Galatasaray), Pepe (Real Madrid), Antunes (Lecce)

Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Duda (Malaga), Carlos Martins (Benfica), Joao Moutinho (Sporting), Manuel Fernandes (Valencia)

Forwards: Simao (Atletico Madrid), Danny (Dinamo Moscow), Nani (Manchester United), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen)