Queiroz: “Nobody has a reserved place in the squad”

New Portugal coach to hand Ronaldo striker role

In the press conference preceding Portugal’s friendly match against the Faeroe Islands tonight, Carlos Queiroz explained the reasoning behind his decision to drop goalkeeper Ricardo. The Real Betis keeper was Portugal’s undisputed first-choice no. 1 throughout the Scolari era.

“Firstly I don’t have fixed ideas about players, or commitments with anybody. I select the squad in line with what I think the options should be.

“The criteria are simple: merit, attitude on the pitch, technical ability and the way I think a player can fit into the team. One thing is certain – the seleccao is not a house or a show with reserved places.”

Queiroz refused to make comparisons with the recent past saying, “I’m not going to talk about the past, apart from saying that Portugal performed in a way that made the fans, a group that included me, proud of them.”

The former Manchester United assistant coach also suggested that star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, a man he knows as well as anybody, could be set for a striker’s role when he recovers from injury and next pulls on a Portugal shirt.


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“I only see one position for Cristiano Ronaldo to play. I expect him to be playing around 90 percent of the game as a forward, five percent in midfield and two percent in defence, if possible. I hope he scores lots of goals.”

Tonight’s match, played in Aveiro, is Portugal’s only friendly before starting their World Cup qualifying campaign in the second week of September with games against Malta away and Denmark at home.