Goalkeeper Ricardo back in goal in the next Portugal game? Not really knowing how stubborn Carlos Queiroz is. So a few days ago, I commented that if Ricardo does make it back, it would be the headline---- no matter who else is a surprise in the list.
Sure enough, today the list of Portugal's pre-call-up list was announced. See for yourself the headline on Record, Portuguese paper March 9, 2009:
After seeing the 38-man pre-call up list I'd say another surprise was Chelsea 2nd choice goalkeeper Hilario.
38-man list pre-call up list by Carlos Queiroz for the decisive qualification match against Sweden (March 28, 2009) and 3 days later, South Africa in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Chelsea is the club with most called up players, 5. FC Porto e Sporting have 3 called up players each. Benfica, only 2 players.
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Chelsea:Deco,
Ricardo Quaresma,
Hilário,
Bosingwa
Ricardo Carvalho
FC Porto: Bruno Alves
Raul Meireles
Rolando
Hélder Postiga,
João Moutinho
Rui Patrício, goalkeeper Sporting)
Simão e Maniche (Atlético de Madrid)
Ruben Amorim
Nuno Gomes
Nelson
Ricardo, R. Betis goalkeeper
Orlando Sá
Eduardo, Sp. Braga goalkeeper
Málaga: Eliseu
Duda
Nani
Cristiano Ronaldo
Manuel Fernandes, Miguel
Edinho (AEK)
Varela (Estrela da Amadora)
José Gonçalves (Nuremberga)
Danny (Zenit)
Fernando Meira (Galatasaray)
Tiago (Juventus)
Beto (Leixões)
Pedro Mendes (Rangers)
Pepe (Real Madrid)
Gonçalo Brandão (Siena)
Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen)
Daniel Fernandes (Bochum)
André Marques (Vitória de Setúbal)
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What did you think of the players in the list?
Hilario was one of the 5 goalkeepers in the list. Will he make it to the final 2 in the call-up list?
There was no Quim because he's on the bench at Benfica.
Ricardo is in goal at Betis since late January 2009. Was on the bench in the first half of the season. Started well but looked bad in the last game Mallorca 3-3 Betis.
Eduardo is #1 in goal at Sp. Braga. He's playing in the UEFA Cup, good performances.
Daniel Fernandes, #1 goalkeeper in Bochum. Haven't seen Bochum games.
Rui Patricio returned in goal at Sporting in the last game. He had missed at least 4 games after injuring his pinky finger on his left hand.
Hilario is #2 goalkeeper at Chelsea.
4 Central defenders: Pepe (Real Madrid), Fernando Meira (Galatasaray), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea)
Who will be the pair in the central defense?
