All this team needs is a good forward. Our defense is experienced and quick with the likes of Carvalho and Pepe(If he gets back). I would play Pepe if hes available as a CB next to Carvalho at the center next to a young Coentrao at RB and Miguel in LB. Miguel is experienced but not all together great. Speed is important on the right flank for alot of teams attackers and Coentrao has plenty. Pepe is good in Midfield but hes better as a defender. They all played, except for Coentrao, against world class forwards and attackers so they would hold up amazingly. Midfield we are an amazing team with the likes of Ruben as a great new up and coming playmaker as well as Carlos Martins who has had a wonderful season thus far off the bench and Meireles. Deco still has to still be there for experience. In the wings we got Ronaldo of course and Simao. Experience in numbers and skill to trouble any team. As subs to those positions we got Nani who can start for Simao and vice versa. Also Varela is doing great and did good against China. Many of these players, like Ruben and Carlos Martins arent well known by many defenders on international teams since they still play in Portugal which can be good for us. In forward though I EASILY give it to Makukula. Hes on nooo ones radar and is deadly this year. Unlike Liedson who is too little too late as hes had his worst season in years. And hes scored for Portugal yes, but luckily. Makukula is tall and great heading which is perfect to receive lobs into the box from beautiful crosses from Simao, Ronaldo, or Nani. Why get a short forward like Liedson to latch onto those kind of passes. Hes so far only played against weak international teams. He will get out jumped and out ran by defenders like the Brazilian team has and like the Ivory Coast has. Also Quim is the best goalkeeper in all of Europe apparently according to Prime Time Sports. Eduardo has never faced anything like Drogba or Luis Fabiano. He wont know what to do with himself. Quim is old but young but goalkeeping standards.
so my team is

Quim
Miguel Carvalho Pepe Coentrao
Carlos Martins
Ruben Deco
Ronaldo Simao
Makukula

sorry for long winded comment

We need the talent of Quaresma back into our squad, Yes he play's to much with the ball... but he is effective and creats chances.. thats what we need. our GF is extremly low, especialy with Ronaldo Simao Liedson involved... we need to up our goal scoring...
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It is going to be difficult with out the likes of Bosigwa and maybe Pepe. But we can pull through.. im sure of it, we need to play beautiful football, passing and taking of chances.

and with Ronaldo on a high, playing with the team( not just himself). and somewhat stopping his skills to be a more team player, Portugal have a decent chance of making it to the knockout.. and hopefully further.!!!


FORCA PORTUGAL!!!!!

Just because Bosingwa is out doesnt mean our hopes to do anything in World Cup are over...Yes it's a blow but how long have we had someone else in his place doing just fine. It'll be ok.. Pepe I pray gets fit in time..If not it's another hit but again...we have a good backup..Not as great in the air but not bad.We'll be ok..CQ just better get his mind right and make a great starting 11 and stick with it..It gets frustrating how many times the roster gets changed around..Talks about Quaresma....hm knowing he hasnt been playing much at all for Inter you would suggest that he shouldn't be in the team..But I think tho getting no play he is a really good midfield player and could be nice to have a quality backup for a starter..hes quick...flashy moves at times...can score when gets the chance....He's really not all that bad..I wish Nuno Gomes would play more for Benfica so he could get one last call to the team..Doesn't look like that'll be happeneing.He had a good run and scored some awsome goals for Portugal and Benfica though being in the shadow of Pauletta most of his career.Some people on here have been putting in some really good starting 11 ideas. I hate that we are playing friendlies against weaker teams...We need to test in bigger team matches to have that experience heading into the World Cup.This happens every time a tournament comes along..Only hope for the best..World Cup is quickly approaching..If the roster is fixed right and we have a strong team out on the pitch I believe we can win our group and take out some huge teams along the way...I really think Portugal have a chance to make it all the way..A lot of great individuals on this team...We play right with eachother we won't be stopped.It's Possible...Forca Portugal!!!

what is the latest update on Danny,this guy is pure class. If healthy and fit, I believe he should be on the team, not as a starter but as an impact sub.

I just read that Bosingwa will require another surgery and will and will not be able to return in time for the world cup. Miguel has experience and always plays well for the seleccao.

i think quaresma is good for portugal .....

i would love to see a friendly between these 2 countries but deff/ they need to face stronger opponents in preparation for the wc

I'm curious to know why Carlos Queirzo has not chosen any players from Benfica I think Carlos Martins would be a fine player. Matter a fact there are no portuguese players from Benfica on the Seleccao. Very, very disappointed.

my team

Eduardo(patricio,beto)
Miguel(ferreira)Carvalho(rolando)Alves(Costa)Bosingwa(duda)
Pepe(meira,mendes)
Veloso(meireles,tiago)
Moutinho(micael,deco)

Ronaldo(simao) Nani(varela)
Liedson(maka,almeida)
I feel veloso gives you someone who can cover for pepe when he makes his runs and vice versa and can distribute the ball well to the wings he can just offer more than tiago and meireles...meira offers versatility as he can play dm and central defence and gives us size on set pieces which was our downfall in 06...If you whant to kill a game off having pepe alves meira and carvalho in the middle would be a fortress in the air and on the ground....

i beleive this would be the selecao's best 11 and and best subs:

--------------------Eduardo--------------------
Bosingwa---Carvalho----Alves-------Miguel------
------------------ Pepe-------------------------
Micael---------Simao-------- Deco--------Ronaldo
------------------Liedson------------------------

Goalie: Quim,
Defenders: Duda, Joao Perreira,, Rolando, Da Costa
Midfeilders:Meireles .Moutinho, Coentrao, Nani, Miguel Veloso, Varela
strikers: Almeida

------------------------ eduardo----------------------
bosingwa------carvalho----------alves-------------duda
--------------------------veloso-----------------------
-------------------micael--------deco------------------
---varela----------------------------------------ronaldo
-------------------makukula-----------------------------

i dont like simao there. Varela needs that spot sorry.

---------------------Liedson------------------
---C.Ronaldo-------------------Simao---
-----------------Micael---Deco--------------
-----------------------Pepe--------------------
---Bosingwa---Carvalho---Bruno Alves---Miguel
--------------------Eduardo------------------

How come he wasn't named for the squade? He has shown some great form thus far. I think it would be a big mistake not to take him. I also read about Carvalho getting injured before the kick off.....whats all that about?

Never in my life have I seen Portugal play the way they are now. Aside from a couple of individual change in gears by Ronaldo, Nani and even Varela on the second half. The game was a total snoozefest. I think I might have even dozed off at some point. It could be also due to the RTPi comentators but I think it had very much to do with the lack of overall energy to complete anything.
These boys should have gotten some energy drinks before the game or something...
The most boring game I have seen Portugal play. LOOK ALIVE!!!

As i have stated before i feel our biggest weakness as a unit is our midfield. We have been able to overcome that hurdle in recent qualifying due to very weak midfields in our group and playoff. As well as over the past 6 years with familiarity and chemistry(portos champions league winning midfield...and wasnt the 66 team basically all benfica), but when playing brasil and possibly spain arguably the best two midfields in the world wouldnt it make sense to stick to what has given us so much success recently and go with players who are or where teamates and have chemistry and understanding(ie a mendes/veloso/moutinho/nani/liedson or pepe/meireles/varela/micael...)what do you guys think and what would be your midfield?

Any word on weather Pepe will be ready for the world cup? For him to be part of the team will he have to play a few games before the world cup? Finally if he isn't fit for the team other than Meira who will fill his role as central defensive midfielder for Portugal?