SC Braga goalkeeper Paulo Santos has been called up to the Portugal squad for the first time for the friendlies against Croatia in Coimbra on Saturday 12 November and against Northern Ireland three days later, in Belfast. The 32-year-old has been outstanding this term, conceding just one goal in the Portuguese Liga and boosting Braga to the top of the table.

Portugal squad
Goalkeepers: Ricardo (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Paulo Santos (SC Braga).

Defenders: Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea FC), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea FC), Marco Caneira (Valencia CF), Miguel (Valencia CF), Jorge Ribeiro (FC Dinamo Moskva), Frechaut (FC Dinamo Moskva), Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart), Jorge Andrade (RC Deportivo La Coruña).

Midfielders: Costinha (FC Dinamo Moskva), Petit (SL Benfica), Simão (SL Benfica), Tiago (Olympique Lyonnais), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC), João Alves (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Luís Boa Morte (Fulham FC).

Forwards: Nuno Gomes (SL Benfica), Pauleta (Paris Saint-Gemain FC), Hélder Postiga (FC Porto).