Portugal recall Pepe for last tests

Pepe will get a second chance to make his Portugal debut after being named in the squad for the make-or-break UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers against Armenia and Finland.

Three-month ban
The Real Madrid CF defender was called up for the last qualifiers and although he was later ruled out with a thigh injury, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has kept faith in him. The Brazilian coach, who is serving a three-month touchline ban following incidents at the end of the home qualifier against Serbia in September, cannot call on Jorge Andrade, Petit and the injured Deco, and has also left out João Moutinho and Paulo Ferreira, with Manuel Fernandes and Jorge Ribeiro taking their places. Second in Group A, Portugal face Armenia in Leiria on 17 November and fourth-placed Finland in Porto four days later. "These two matches are decisive and as we predicted in the beginning of the campaign, we are in a good position to qualify," said Scolari. "We need to do our job at home now."

Portugal squad
Goalkeepers: Ricardo (Real Betis Balompié), Quim (SL Benfica).

Defenders: Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart), Jorge Ribeiro (Boavista FC), Bosingwa (FC Porto), Pepe (Real Madrid CF), Luis Miguel (Valencia CF), Marco Caneira (Valencia CF), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea FC).

Midfielders: Manuel Fernandes (Valencia CF), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Maniche (Club Atlético de Madrid), Raul Meireles (FC Porto).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC), Nani (Manchester United FC), Simão (Club Atlético de Madrid), Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto), Ariza Makukula (CS Marítimo), Hugo Almeida (SV Werder Bremen), Nuno Gomes (SL Benfica).