LISBON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Real Madrid defender Pepe could make his debut for Portugal after being named in the squad for their final Euro 2008 Group A qualifiers against Armenia and
Finland.
The Brazilian-born player, who recently was granted
Portuguese citizenship, had been set to make his debut in
September but had to pull out of the squad because of a thigh
injury which then sidelined him for two months.
In his 21-man squad for the matches at home to Armenia on
Nov. 17 and Finland four days later, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari
also included Valencia midfielder Manuel Fernandes -- his first
call-up since his debut in March 2005.
Scolari will not be in the dugout for the Armenia game while
he serves the last of a three-match ban imposed by UEFA for what
European soccer's governing body termed an assault on Serbia
player Ivica Dragutinovic after Portugal's 1-1 draw at home to
Serbia on Sept. 12.
His assistant Flavio Murtosa will take his place.
Portugal are second in Group A, one point behind leaders
Poland and three points ahead of Serbia and Finland. The top two
qualify for next year's finals.
Goalkeepers: Ricardo Pereira (Betis Sevilla), Quim Silva
(Benfica)
Defenders: Miguel Monteiro (Valencia), Jose Bosingwa
(Porto), Jorge Ribeiro (Boavista), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea),
Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart), Pepe (Real Madrid), Tonel
(Sporting), Bruno Alves (Porto), Marco Caneira (Valencia)
Midfielders: Raul Meirelos (Porto), Miguel Veloso
(Sporting), Manuel Fernandes (Valencia), Maniche Ribeiro
(Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Simao
Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Ricardo Quaresma (Porto), Nuno Gomes
(Benfica), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Ariza Makukula
(Maritimo)
