Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Coach Antonio Oliveira named an attack-minded squad on Monday for Portugal8217;s World Cup campaign backed by versatile, experienced players.
Oliveira said that Portugal would stick to their formula of a lone striker spearheading an attack with two wingers in support. He named just three forwards, of whom Bordeaux8217;s Pedro Pauleta is normally the first choice as a 8220;spearhead8221;.
8220;We have always played and always will play with a spearhead in a team with a corridor of versatile, mature and talented players who can adapt to several functions, namely in mid-field,8221; Oliveira told a news conference.
8220;It8217;s a squad of players with features required to play a World Cup at the highest level, within a strategy of not only bein able to play counter-attacks when required but also to play a sustained attack,8221; Oliveira added.
Pauleta8217;s striking companions are Nuno Gomes, who was snapped up by Fiorentina after a dazzling Euro 2000, and Joao Pinto, who has just finished a season with Portuguese League-Cup double winners Sporting.
Pinto, now 30, is one of Portugal8217;s 8220;golden boys8221;, or veterans of the team which won World Youth Championships back in 1989 and 1991, and still make up the backbone of the national squad.
Real Madrid mid-field star Luis Figo was another 8220;golden boy8221; named by Oliveira, along with AC Milan playmaker Rui Costa, and defenders Fernando Couto of Lazio and Liverpool8217;s Abel Xavier.
Spanish press reports have recently said Figo 8212; the most capped player in the squad with 81 appearances 8212; has been suffering from an injured ankle.
The only surprise among the 23-man squad named by Oliveira was previously uncapped mid-fielder Daniel Kenedy, 28, who steps in for injured Simao Sabrosa and plays for Maritimo, who finished sixth in the Portuguese premiership. Portugal have one last friendly to play before heading to Korea, when they face China in former colony Macao on May 25. Reuters
Squad
Goalkeepers: Ricardo Pereira Boavista, Vitor Baia Porto,Nelson Pereira Sporting.
Defenders: Abel Xavier Liverpool, England, Jorge AndradePorto, Jorge Costa Charlton, England, Fernando Couto Lazio, Italy, Beto Severo Sporting, Rui Jorge Sporting, Nuno Frechaut Boavista, Marco Caneira Benfica.
Mid-fielders: Luis Figo Real Madrid, Sergio ConceicaoInter, Rui Costa AC Milan, Italy, Paulo Bento Sporting, Paulo Sousa Espanyol, Spain, Pedro Barbosa Sporting, Armando Petit Boavista, Daniel Kenedy Maritimo, Nuno Capucho Porto.
Forwards: Nuno Gomes Fiorentina, Pedro Pauleta Bordeaux,Joao Pinto Sporting
