Rui Patrício promoted to Portugal squad

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has promoted Under-21 international goalkeeper Rui Patrício into the senior squad for next week's friendly against Italy in Zurich.

Season to remember
The 19-year-old custodian has featured in seven Portuguese Liga matches for Sporting Clube de Portugal this season and also played against Manchester United FC and FC Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Champions League. He is joined in Scolari's 19-man squad for the 6 February fixture by Deco and Petit, who both sat out the concluding UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Finland due to injury. The Portugal coach is, however, deprived of the services of Pepe (calf) and Simão (thigh), while Miguel, Miguel Veloso and Manuel Fernandes are all left out.

'Give youth a chance'
"It's important to give young players a chance," said Scolari. "In the last [FIFA] World Cup we had some problems with one of our goalkeepers so it is important to give an opportunity to some new young talent. This is a way to have a look at the youngest players and to see if we can count on them in the future. Italy have a peculiar way of playing; they usually give possession to the other team but they can settle the game in an instant. Portugal haven't won against Italy in the last 30 years and I've played them twice since taking over and lost both games. It's important to learn how to face these kind of teams."

Portugal squad
Goalkeepers: Quim (SL Benfica), Ricardo (Real Bétis Balompié), Rui Patrício (Sporting Clube de Portugal).

Defenders: Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart), Jorge Ribeiro (Boavista FC), Bosingwa (FC Porto), Marco Caneira (Valencia CF), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea FC), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea FC).

Midfielders: Deco (FC Barcelona), Petit (SL Benfica), Maniche (FC Internazionale Milano), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Nani (Manchester United FC).

Forwards: Ariza Makukula (CS Marítimo), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC), Nuno Gomes (SL Benfica), Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto).