Scolari called Nuno Gomes for the match against Italy
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has included Nuno Gomes in his squad for the UEFA EURO 2004™ hosts' friendly against Italy next Wednesday in Braga.
Due to injury the 27-year-old forward has been missing from the international fold since the friendly against Kuwait in November. However two goals in last night's UEFA Cup match against FC Internazionale have helped seal his return - and lessen the pain of SL Benfica's 4-3 aggregate defeat.
Tottenham Hotspur FC forward Hélder Postiga is also recalled after an absence of five months while Hugo Almeida and Hugo Viana have been dropped from the squad that faced England. Experienced internationals Maniche, Sérgio Conceição and Fernando Meira also miss out and now look unlikely to figure this summer.
Scolari said: "I almost have my squad finalised for the finals. I wanted to call three strikers up and see Pauleta, Nuno Gomes and Postiga playing - I hope this will help me decide if I will call two or three of them for the final squad. We are playing almost as I want us to. Those 21 days we have before EURO 2004™ will be fundamental to completing our preparations."
Portuguese squad
Benfica (5) – Miguel, Nuno Gomes, Petit, Simão e Tiago
FC Porto (5) – Paulo Ferreira, Costinha, Deco, Nuno Valente, Ricardo Carvalho
Sporting (3) – Ricardo, Beto e Rui Jorge
AC Milan – Rui Costa
D. Corunha – Jorge Andrade
Fulham – Luís Boa Morte
Lázio – Fernando Couto
Manchester United – Cristiano Ronaldo
Paris-SG – Pauleta
Real Madrid – Figo
Sp. Braga – Quim
Tottenham – Hélder Postiga
Source: Uefa.com, abola.pt
