Thursday 30 August 2007

Brazil-born Pepe gets Portugal call-up for Euro 2008 qualifiers


Pepe is set to be the latest player born in Brazil to play for Portugal.

The Real Madrid central defender, who recently took Portuguese nationality, was included in the 22-man squad Thursday for Portugal's two European Championship qualifiers.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari selected the 24-year-old Pepe — who moved from FC Porto to Madrid in the preseason — for games against Poland on Sept. 8 and Serbia four days later.

Pepe joins Brazil-born FC Barcelona midfielder Deco, also a former Porto player, who has 47 caps since adopting Portuguese nationality four years ago.

"Some of the best teams in the world have naturalized players," said Scolari, who is Brazilian. "That's how it is nowadays."



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