Portugal head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has announced his 23-man squad for the EURO 2008 Finals in Austria/Switzerland, kicking-off on June 7, 2008.

There are three players from the English Premier League to feature in Scolari’s final 23-man Portugal squad. Manchester United star winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Chelsea’s Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira.

One big name missing from the Portugal squad is Maniche, who seems to have missed the call-up from Scolari after failing to secure a regular first-team place at Inter Milan.

His younger brother Jorge Ribeiro, who plays in Portugal for Boavista FC, has been called-up for the final 23-man squad by ‘Big Phil’ Scolari.

23-man Portugal squad for EURO 2008 Finals:

Goalkeepers: Ricardo (Real Betis Balompié), Quim (SL Benfica), Rui Patrício (Sporting Clube de Portugal).

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

Midfielders: Petit (SL Benfica), Deco (FC Barcelona), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Clube de Portugal), João Moutinho (Sporting Clube de Portugal).

Forwards: Nuno Gomes (SL Benfica), Simão Sabrosa (Club Atlético de Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC), Nani (Manchester United FC), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto), Hélder Postiga (Panathinaikos FC).

There was no place for Maniche in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s final 23-man squad for UEFA EURO 2008™, although the FC Internazionale Milano midfielder’s brother Jorge Ribeiro is included after an excellent season in the Boavista FC defence.

Shone in 2004
Maniche was one of the stars of the previous EURO on home soil four years ago, and also travelled to the 2006 FIFA World Cup before appearing eight times in qualifying for Austria and Switzerland. The former FC Porto schemer has seemingly paid the price for failing to nail down a regular place at Inter, the club he joined on loan from Club Atlético de Madrid in the winter window. Maniche’s 26-year-old sibling, in contrast, has been a regular for Boavista, scoring eight goals in 26 Liga outings. He has eight caps.

Uncapped keeper
The only uncapped member of the squad is Sporting Clube de Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patrício, while his club colleagues João Moutinho and Miguel Veloso also made the final party along with Hélder Postiga, the Panathinaikos FC forward who featured just twice in qualifying. 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."

EURO fixtures
The squad will convene in Viseu for a 19-31 May training camp which concludes with a friendly against Georgia at the Estádio do Fontelo. Portugal will then head to their EURO base in Neuchatel ahead of Group A fixtures against Turkey, Czech Republic and Switzerland.

Portugal squad
Goalkeepers: Ricardo (Real Betis Balompié), Quim (SL Benfica), Rui Patrício (Sporting Clube de Portugal).

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

Midfielders: Petit (SL Benfica), Deco (FC Barcelona), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Clube de Portugal), João Moutinho (Sporting Clube de Portugal).

Forwards: Nuno Gomes (SL Benfica), Simão Sabrosa (Club Atlético de Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC), Nani (Manchester United FC), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto), Hélder Postiga (Panathinaikos FC).

Current squad for Portugal

The following players named for friendly match against Greece on March 26, 2008.

Caps and goals as of 26 March 2008, included against Greece.