Quaresma in Portugal squad for Saudi Arabia friendly

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari called up FC Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma, seen here in January 2006, for a friendly against Saudi Arabia in Dusseldorf, Germany on March 1.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari called up FC Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma, a regular at the Under-21 level, for a friendly against Saudi Arabia in Dusseldorf, Germany on March 1.

"Quaresma has played reasonably well in the observations we have carried out," said Scolari, adding the 22-year-old could be included in the list of players who will take part in the World Cup which he will unveil on May 15.

"Any player can be called up, even from the Under-21 squad, so Quaresma's selection is normal. I have chosen 80 percent of the final squad but injuries and other things can happen before then," he added.

Quaresma, formerly of Spanish giants FC Barcelona, has four international caps at the senior level. He last played for Portugal at the senior level during the squad's 2-0 win over Egypt in a friendly held on August 17.

Portugal are in Group D along with Angola, Mexico and Iran. Saudi Arabia are in Group H with Spain, Ukraine and Tunisia.

The World Cup will be held in Germany from June 9 to July 9

Portugal squad:

Goalkeepers: Quim (Benfica), Ricardo (Sporting)

Defenders: Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart/GER), Jorge Andrade (Deportivo Coruna/ESP), Miguel (Valencia/ESP), Marco Caneira (Sporting Lisbon), Nuno Valente (Everton/ENG), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea/ENG)

Midfielder: Deco (Barcelona/ESP), Petit (Benfica), Costinha (Dynamo Moscow/RUS), Maniche (Chelsea/ENG), Tiago Mendes (Lyon/FRA)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/ENG), Helder Postiga (Saint Etienne/FRA), Figo (Inter Milan/ITA), Pauleta (Paris St Germain/FRA), Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto)