The Portugal team started training today, Monday Feb 9, 2009. For the first time since 2000, no player from Benfica was called (no Nuno Gomes, Quim, Jorge Ribeiro, and Carlos Martins).
Simao Sabrosa is injured. 11 of the 20 players called up were in the training session.
Seven players stayed in the hotel: Gonçalo Brandão, Eliseu, Bruno Alves, Rolando, Miguel, João Moutinho, Raul Meireles, Tiago and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Nani, Pepe, Almeida and Queiroz. Photo: Lusa
In the press conference, Seleccionador Nacional, Carlos Queiroz, (Portugal coach) said in Portuguese:
“It's necessary to fight for the 2010 world cup qualification. That's why 16 or 17 of the players who are the base of the team are here. We also took advantage of this opportunity to call-up 20 or 30% of players that will get experience."
Queiroz sounds defensive, not convincing.
About the Portugal v. Finland game: "Every time we have the opportunity to train, it's good. We need these precious moments to prepare for the 2010 World Cup."
On the other hand, new player from the Serie A's Siena, defender Gonçalo Brandão said only today "he felt that he was really called up in the Portugal team."
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