Portugal squad for Bosnia play-off
Reuters - Friday 04 November 2011, 13:05
The return of Real Madrid defenders Fabio Coentrao
and Pepe and striker Hugo Almedia has made an already highly-motivated and
confident Portugal squad even stronger for their two-legged Euro 2012 play-off
against Bosnia, Portugal coach Paulo Bento said on Friday.
"If we are not motivated now to reach the finals of an international
tournament we would hardly ever be motivated for anything else," Bento told
journalists.
"We head into this play-off with maximum confidence. This time we have a
wider range of choices to pick the squad from with three of our regulars
returning from injury," he added.
As well as the return of Coentrao and Pepe, Bento also has Besiktas striker
Almeida back after injury forced him out of the last two qualifiers against
Iceland and Denmark.
The return of the two defenders may prove crucial following Portugal's
wobbly performances in defence in their last two matches, in which they conceded
five goals.
Last month, Portugal beat Iceland 5-3 at home but their 2-1 defeat in
Denmark in their last qualifier meant they finished second in Group H behind the
Danes who qualified for the finals automatically.
"We are confident. What happened in Denmark is in the past. We have to look
up and face reality which now comprises the Bosnia matches," Cristiano Ronaldo
told Antena 1 radio.
"Portugal has a great team and great players. We have to show that we are
favourites and assume it. I am confident that Portugal will be in the Euros,"
said Ronaldo, who is set to receive the Golden Boot award later today.
The world's most expensive player earned the prize for being the top scorer
in league matches in Europe, notching a superb 40 goals for Real Madrid in
Spain's La Liga.
Bosnia coach Safet Susic has said he expects the play-off to be extremely
tight as his side seeks to avenge their 2-0 aggregate play-off defeat to Portugal
back in 2009 that saw them out of the World Cup in South Africa.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Benfica), Beto (Cluj), Rui Patricio (Sporting).
Defenders: Bruno Alves (Zenit St. Petersburg), Joao Pereira (Sporting),
Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Rolando (Porto), Silvio (Atletico Madrid), Pepe
(Real Madrid), Sereno (Cologne).
Midfielders: Carlos Martins (Granada), Joao Moutinho (Porto), Miguel Veloso
(Genoa), Raul Meireles (Chelsea), Ruben Micael (Real Zaragoza), Ruben Amorim
(Benfica).
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Danny (Zenit St. Petersburg),
Helder Postiga (Real Zaragoza), Nani (Manchester United), Ricardo
Quaresma (Besiktas), Nuno Gomes (Braga), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas)