Carlos Queiroz calls up Yannick Djalo and Pedro Mendes

Portugal coach selects Sporting’s in-form striker

Yannick Djalo and Pedro Mendes are the main talking points of Carlos Queiroz’s Portugal squad for their opening two World Cup 2010 qualifying matches.

Young Sporting striker Djalo ended last season in red-hot form and has started the new campaign in a similar vein. It is the first time Djalo has been called up to the senior squad.

Other than Djalo, the major surprise is the selection of Pedro Mendes five years after his last appearance for the senior Portugal team.

Former national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari proceeded to ignore the ex Porto, Tottenham and Portsmouth midfielder, now playing for Rangers in Scotland, many feel unfairly so.


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


Another midfielder who had an up-and-down relationship with Scolari, Maniche, is drafted back into the squad.

Portugal play Malta (6 September) and Denmark (10 September) as they attempt to reach their sixth successive major tournament.

Full squad:

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

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

Midfielders: Maniche (Atletico Madrid), Joao Moutinho (Sporting), Carlos Martins (Benfica), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Pedro Mendes (Rangers), Deco (Chelsea)

Forwards: Simao (Atletico Madrid), Danny (Zenit), Nani (Manchester United), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Yannick Djalo (Sporting), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen)