Agostinho Oliveira is beginning to think about his first line-up and he admits there may be a few surprises. There will be new faces but none from the Under 21 side, virtually ruling out Quaresma, Moreira, and Helder Postiga. There intention is to make a gradual change and their are many new faces that have given great showings thus far. Questioned about Figo and Rui Costa, he left no doubts about it, they are wanted and needed because they possess a creativity that's needed on the team. In terms of fitness, they are in top shape so nothing is keeping them from being selected. Hugo Viana will not be selected to the under 21 side but to the senior side immediately. Quim, however, will not be selected as of yet because he has to get a few matches under his belt before being considered again for the senior side.
He met with his appointed coaching staff for the first time Tuesday and responsibilities for the national teams were divided amongst them. Oliveira will be responsible for the senior side, the B side, and the Under 21 side but if a scheduling conflict arises, the senior squad will take priority and Rui Caçador, António Violante or Carlos Dinis will take over the other team. Oliveira also admitted that he will attempt to impose the same tactics and formation strategy on all levels of the national team. Therefore, the senior squad may play some matches with 3 central defenders at the back if need be.
Valentim Loureiro met with Prime Minister Durão Barroso and Sports Minister José Luís Arnaut to discuss Euro 2004 financing problems. The current PSD government has been somewhat reluctant to fulfill a contract signed by the previous PS government that finances 25% of all the costs of construction and remodelling of stadiums. The deal was bases on previous base prices and Loureiro is attempting to get the government to commit to actual costs. Barroso stated that the government will adhere to what was signed but won't as yet commit to account for inflation. Arnaut confirmed this position after the meeting by stating that the Euro 2004 issue is closed and basically blamed the previous regime for the current fiscal problems that the clubs are facing with regards to stadium financing. However the current government will stick to what the PS government signed originally.
Simão Sabrosa, in an interview online with IOL, applauded the appointment of Agostinho Oliveira and believes he may also be a solution for the future. Simão worked with Oliveira before and won the Under 16 European championship with him...
The recent Under 21 training camp featured the following squad: Bruno Aguiar (Alverca); Beto (Casa Pia); Bruno Sousa and Santamaria (Marco); Makukula (Nantes); Mário Sérgio (P. Ferreira); Hélder Postiga, Hugo Luz, Manuel Vieira, Ricardo Costa and Vítor Silva (F. Porto); Lourenço (Oldham); Miguelito (Rio Ave); Bruno (Farense); Ednilson, Eduardo Simões, Moreira and Tiago (Benfica); Carlos Martins, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma (Sporting); João Paulo (U. Leiria); Bruno Tiago (Salamanca); Jorge Ribeiro (Varzim); Joca and Mário Carlos (V. Setúbal). In assessing the camp, Oliveira was somewhat disappointed because many of the players, he felt, were playing a selfish type of football. The team has to improve immensely in respect before it takes on Macedonia in 2 weeks time...