Rate it!

0 votes

Portugal sent Chelsea midfielder Deco back to his club ahead of the World Cup Group One qualifier against Sweden at the weekend.

Deco was named in Portugal's squad for the match, despite missing Chelsea's last five matches after hurting his thigh during the 4-0 Champions League win over Bordeaux.

He is widely expected to return following the international break.

Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz had also included Atletico Madrid's former Chelsea midfielder Maniche in a 24-man squad, but he was also allowed to return to his club due to injury.

Sweden captain Henrik Larsson will miss the match after injuring his thigh during training with the national team.

The 37-year-old Helsingborgs striker, who is likely to be out for a couple of weeks, joins a long list of absentees including defenders Erik Edman and Olof Mellberg plus midfielders Anders Svensson, Christian Wilhelmsson and Tobias Linderoth.

"I don't think I've ever had this kind of injury situation since I began [this job]," Sweden coach Lars Lagerback told news agency TT.

Portugal's 24-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Quim (Benfica), Eduardo Carvalho (Braga), Daniel Fernandes (VfL Bochum)

Defenders: Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Fernando Meira (Galatasaray), Bruno Alves (Porto), Pepe (Real Madrid), Vitorino Antunes (Lecce), Miguel (Valencia), Tonel (Sporting)

Midfielders: Raul Meireles (Porto), Joao Moutinho (Sporting), Carlos Martins (Benfica), Danny (Zenit St Petersburg), Nani (Manchester United), Yannick Djalo (Sporting), Manuel Fernandes (Valencia)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Ricardo Quaresma (Internazionale).

Reda Maher / Reuters