it's time to give some other strikers a chance....As some have already mentioned, can we give Vaz Te a shot already.....or is he planning on going to Brasil with Almeida and Postiga as the starting strikers?

Good points made by all.

I can see arguments for introducing new players, especially at the striker position. I can also see maintaining status quo for continuity and maintaining momentum.

I will put this out there for discussion. Could it be that Bento has his eye on FIFA Rankings and wanting to gain maximum number of points before WC 2014. After what happened in South Africa, could it be that Bento isn't going to let up against anyone to ensure that Portugal stay in top eight for seeding purposes?

I know international friendlies aren't worth a lot of points in terms of rankings...but giving up points to these lesser lights can be killers a couple of years down the road.

I see both sides of the argument - for now, I am in the camp that says In Bento We Trust.

While I understand that Bento wants to keep a strong core of players, this would have been the perfect time to try out some alternative players like Vaz Te and Salvador Agra in the front 3. Andre Martins, Adrien Silva, and Manuel Fernandes in the midfield. And Daniel Carrico, Luis Neto, and Manuel Da Costa in defense.

Yeah, I agree we shouldn't be too upset about Bento trying to maintain the status quo. We just proved we are one of the better teams in the world at Euro 2012 and there is no need to make too many additions at this point. We really need to wait for this club season to unfold and hopefully we'll have some standout performers that Bento can think about mixing in. Until that time, I say keep the team as it is.

I agree with Jerm-Toronto and some others. After Portugal's fantastic showing at the Euros when everyone, including many of our own fans were predicting we'd fall at the first hurdle...I think Bento has earned the right to do things his own way...at least for now. if the results dip then we can criticise. But as others have said, we made terrible starts to both qualification campaigns of the last 2 tournaments. I think it's wise to carry on the momentum from the Euros with the same players and make sure we make an excellent start this time, and this friendly will be the preparation for that.

That said, I also think he could've given a few young players places in the squad, even if not given actual playing time, at least valuable experience in the squad. Like others i really don't know what Almeida is still doing in the squad. Hugo gives his all, but unfortunately just hasn't delivered, and other forwards deserve a chance over him in the squad. But the WC is still 2 years away, and there will be plenty of opportunities in that period to give the likes of Carrico, Andre Martins, Mika, Hugo Vieira, Vaz Te etc etc some experience.

I disagree with others that this is an ageing squad, and I think in 2014 most of the key players of the squad (CR7, Nani, Coentrao, Moutinho etc etc) will be in or around peak phase. Sure we are not a particularly young squad like Germany for example..but we're not that old either. The captain CR7 is the most experienced player in the squad at international level, and he's only 27! Come WC 2014 the only players over 30 will be Pepe, Bruno and Meireles...and of these only Pepe will still be guaranteed a place in the first team in 2 years time. It's typical of many Portuguese fans to be complainers and be pessimistic, but i say it again after our great showing at the Euros, there's a lot to be optimistic about!!

There will always be complainers smh semi final shoot out loss in the 5th pelanty to the champs not enough for you? He knows what hes doing let him do his job and shut up.

Bento is playing it safe in the friendly to not disrupt things too much to get a good start on WC qualifying. The first 11 are settled but the back up depth is weak.

The first 11 has about 2 years left and are in their prime, there are some players with 4 years left. Our first 11 is pretty solid with the exception of striker as we know and maybe a new attacking mid field player.

At some point, Bento will need to introduce couple of new central defenders, a 1-2 additions to midfield, and find a new striker to help with the depth.

It is incumbent on players like Fernandes, Carrico, Andre Martins, Ve Tez, Danny (if he ever gets healthy and can produce for NT) and Rudi to have good regular seasons to make a case to be on team. There are low hanging fruit on the bench that can be easily replaced if these players step up to reach their potential. It is simple, play well for club and you have a shot. Bento will not replace these players until others step up.

The reality is that you don't see the transfer windows opening for Portuguese players as the current players in the young 20's have shown nothing. These are the players that would need to produce and there are few. The hope is in the players in the late teens to step up but that could take another 2-3 years. Bento has few options to work with.

This is a friendly, which allows you to introduce new players to the squad. Even if they don't see action, you can see how they interact on and off the field with the other players. For the life of me, I don't understand why there aren't at least four new players being introduced to the squad. It doesn't mean they will make the final cut for the WC, but you can at least get a look.
Players like Cristiano, Nani, Meireles, Moutinho... won't be too involved in this match. They are preparing for the grueling upcoming season. The last thing they want is to risk injury. I wouldn't be surprised if Cristiano sat.

Let me also add that most of these guys actually won't be in their prime when the WC rolls around. Most will have begun the downward slope of their careers. It only makes sense to introcduce new players. But by the looks of it, we'll have an aging squad in the WC.

This is a friendly match and Bento hasn't brought anyone who will replenish and give a fresh look to the squad. Why? This is miserable coaching. There are players who could use some experience like Mika, Andre Martins, Wilson Eduardo etc. Hugo Almeida and Helder Postiga are not the answers moving forward.

Raul Meireles is one of the worst players to put on a Portugal shirt. He offered nothing at the Euros and shouldn't have even started if we had a decent replacement.

Bento is showing the same ignorance again picking his favorites.. ok I know Martins has had a good season but Ruben Micael? and I can't see any center backs lining up to take over when Pepe and Bruno Alves are gone.

It's time to introduce some new players while keeping the core of the team and then build chemistry from there. We didn't get it done at the Euros, This aging team is not winning WC 2014. Wake up.

i think Portugal need a new coach with better skills
In coaching he picks to many favorites there is other
Younger talant in Portugal that deserve a chance like Vaz te and rudi and other players that could def perform
And bento is passing them up for his favorites yea I do
Understand unity and all that but I also want Portugal to succeed but I'm afraid we ain't going to see that until
Someone better takes the throne I'm so tired of seeing these
Oldies take the field when there is so much talant out there

but wouldn't a friendly against Panama and the straightforward qualifiers against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan be good warm-ups for ANYBODY WHO CAN KICK A BALL and ISN'T named Hugo Almeida?!!!

This selection doesn't really make much sense. Bento is wasting the opportunity to try out younger and other unproven players in what is his lats friendly before WC qualifying starts. With nothing on the line, that is a real shame.

Martins has been good. Michael shouldnt be on this squad. Hes not a regular club player, and he needs to be in order to actually be seen as a player. He better start oliveira for striker.. he needs to get a full game in him and improve in experience. Deportivo can provide him with some oprotunity also, good move. I also expected to see someone like betinho or the wonderful salvador AGRA on the bench, but i guess bento insists on playing the same style and not developing yoiung players to give them chances..