Portugal ready to start anew under Bento
Friday, October 1, 2010
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Paulo Machado and João Pereira are the two new faces in the Portugal squad as new coach Paulo Bento looks to get his tenure off to a winning start against Denmark in Group H.
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Paulo Bento has named two new faces in his first squad as Portugal coach for the matches against Denmark on 8 October and in Iceland four days later.
Toulouse FC midfielder Paulo Machado, 24, and Sporting Clube de Portugal right-back João Pereira, 26, are included while SL Benfica midfielder Carlos Martins and Sporting striker Hélder Postiga are recalled after long absences. "With this group of 23 the team can play in different ways and systems," Paulo Bento said. Portugal have picked up one point from their first two Group H matches after drawing with Cyprus and losing in Norway.
Portugal squad
Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Genoa CFC), Rui Patrício (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Beto (FC Porto).
Defenders: Bruno Alves (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Fábio Coentrão (SL Benfica), João Pereira (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Ricardo Carvalho (Real Madrid CF), Pepe (Real Madrid CF), Rolando (FC Porto), Sílvio (SC Braga).
Midfielders: Carlos Martins (SL Benfica), João Moutinho (FC Porto), Miguel Veloso (Genoa CFC), Paulo Machado (Toulouse FC), Raul Meireles (Liverpool FC), Tiago (Club Atlético de Madrid).
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid CF), Danny (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Hélder Postiga (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Liedson (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Hugo Almeida (SV Werder Bremen), Nani (Manchester United FC), Silvestre Varela (FC Porto).
