Portugal squad announced...

Portugal's enigmatic leader Luis Felipe Scolari has named his 23-man squad for Euro 2008 and the shock omission is Inter Milan's Maniche. The midfielder has struggled to gain a starting slot since moving to Italy on loan from Atletico Madrid and this seems to have cost him dear as the player, who was outstanding at Euro 2004 will be left kicking his heels during the summer as his younger brother, Jorge Ribeiro heads to Portugal's Euro base of Neuchatel.

There's no other real surprises in Big Phil's squad other than the call-up of uncapped keeper Rui Patricio of Sporting Lisbon, who will be lucky to get any game time ahead of regular keepers Ricardo and Quim. Ronaldo, Ferreira, Carvalho and Nani represent the Premier League and will be pivotal to Portugal's chances, these players will also be joined in England next year by £16m Chelsea signing Jose Boswinga. Here is the full squad....

Goalkeepers
Ricardo Real Betis
Balompié Quim Benfica
Rui Patrício Sporting Lisbon

Defenders
Paulo Ferreira Chelsea
Ricardo Carvalho Chelsea
Jose Bosingwa Porto
Bruno Alves Porto
Jorge Ribeiro Boavista
Miguel Valencia
Fernando Meira VfB Stuttgart
Pepe Real Madrid

Midfielders
Petit Benfica
Deco Barcelona
Raul Meireles Porto
Miguel Veloso Sporting Lisbon
João Moutinho Sporting Lisbon

Forwards
Nuno Gomes Benfica
Simão Sabrosa Atletico Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United
Nani Manchester United
Hugo Almeida Werder Bremen
Ricardo Quaresma Porto
Hélder Postiga Panathinaikos

Coach Scolari said, "My expectations are the same as those that I had in 2004. I hope these players know what it means to represent their country well and reach the second stage. I have total belief in this squad."

Portugal face Georgia in a friendly match later this month before their opening Euro 2008 fixture against Turkey in Geneva on June 7th.