Soccer Extreme : Portugal coach Paulo Bento, who has overseen three successive wins since taking charge, said continuity was the key after naming a squad containing few surprises for next week’s friendly against Argentina.“There are no big surprises, we are looking for stability. We want to give an identity to the national side, and that comes from stability in our selections,” Bento told reporters on Thursday.
Appointed in September after Carlos Queiroz was sacked for insulting anti-doping agents, Bento has revived Portugal’s Euro 2012 qualifying hopes after a dismal start with wins over Denmark and Iceland.
Portugal then produced a sumptuous display to humble World Cup winners Spain 4-0 in a friendly in November and Bento said he wants the side to keep building momentum against Argentina before the next qualifier at home to Norway in June.
The coach’s single change in defence is the absence of Real Madrid centre back Pepe, who is recovering from a torn calf muscle, while Tiago is no longer available in midfield after retiring from international football last month.
Winger Ricardo Quaresma earns a first call-up under Bento, having revived his career at Besiktas following a nightmare spell on the sidelines at Inter Milan.
“Quaresma is a talented player. The call-up is not a surprise,” Bento said.
Captain Cristiano Ronaldo’s form has improved for Portugal under Bento, but the coach said the friendly will not pit him in an individual duel against Argentina’s Lionel Messi even though fans may see it as such.
Portugal face Argentina in Geneva on Wednesday.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Genoa), Ventura (Portimonense), Rui Patricio (Sporting)
Defenders: Ricardo Carvalho (Real Madrid), Bruno Alves (Zenit St Petersburg), Rolando (Porto), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica), Joao Pereira (Sporting), Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Miguel Veloso (Genoa), Joao Moutinho (Porto), Raul Meireles (Liverpool), Carlos Martins (Benfica), Paulo Machado (Toulouse)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Danny (Zenit St Petersburg), Helder Postiga (Sporting), Nani (Manchester United), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas)
Can't wait for the game!
Cambio de Estadio para Argentina-Portugal
El partido amistoso que sostendrán el próximo 9 de febrero las Selecciones de Argentina y Portugal se disputará en el Stade de Genève, de Ginebra, Suiza, en lugar del Emirates Stadium, de Londres. En tanto el 26 de marzo, Argentina enfrentará a Estados Unidos en la ciudad de Nueva York.
El nuevo escenario del encuentro amistoso que sostendrá la Selección Argentina ante la de Portugal será el Stade de Genève, de Ginebra, Suiza. El partido se disputará el próximo 9 de febrero a las 21 hora local (las 17 de nuestro país).
El cambio se debe a que la Selección de Inglaterra jugará ante Dinamarca, en Copenhague, a la misma hora en que tenía previsto jugar la Selección Argentina ante Portugal, inicialmente, en el Emirates Stadium, de Londres.
Próximos compromisos. La Selección Argentina, luego del partido ante Portugal, jugará ante Estados Unidos en la ciudad de Nueva York, el 26 de marzo de 2011; y posteriormente se enfrentará a Costa Rica, el 29 de marzo de 2011 en el marco de la inauguración del nuevo Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica.