Scolari eyes Ronaldo Euro boost

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari wants Cristiano Ronaldo to replicate his brilliant club form after naming the winger in his Euro 2008 squad.

Ronaldo and Manchester United team-mate Nani were included in the 23-man party for the tournament, starting on 7 June.

"There is no doubt that Ronaldo is in great form but I cannot guarantee he will be in the same form as he's been at Manchester United," said Scolari.

Chelsea defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira are also in the squad.

The Stamford Bridge outfit's new £16.2m signing, right-back Jose Bosingwa, will move to the Blues after his stint with Portugal in Austria and Switzerland.

With the Champions League final to contest on 21 May, the United and Chelsea players will join up with the squad after the game in Moscow.

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"Portugal will be strongest down the flanks - through Nani, Simao Sabrosa, and of course one Cristiano Ronaldo"
BBC Sport's Oliver Brett

There was no place in Scolari's Euro 2008 group for Chelsea's former on-loan midfielder Maniche, who now plays for Inter Milan. The 30-year-old's omission was the only surprise in the squad announcement.

Portugal finished as runners-up to Greece on home soil in 2004 and Scolari, who won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, is expecting another strong performance.

"The expectations are the same as in 2004," added Scolari, who will step down as Portugal coach after the competition.

"We have great quality to clinch the qualification in the first phase. I have total belief in this squad."

Portugal are in Group A with the Czech Republic, Turkey and co-hosts Switzerland.

PORTUGAL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Ricardo Pereira (Real Betis), Quim Silva (Benfica), Rui Patricio (Sporting)

Defenders: Miguel Monteiro (Valencia), Jose Bosingwa (Porto, to join Chelsea after tournament), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart), Bruno Alves (Porto), Pepe (Real Madrid), Jorge Ribeiro (Boavista)

Midfielders: Raul Meireles (Porto), Joao Moutinho (Sporting), Deco (Barcelona), Armando Petit (Benfica), Miguel Veloso (Sporting)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Ricardo Quaresma (Porto), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Nani (Manchester United), Helder Postiga (Panathinaikos)

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Portugal
Uefa: Euro 2008
Uefa venues guide
BBC Sport's Euro 2008 blog
Football on the BBC
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