Pepe called up for Portugal

Portugal manager Carlos Quieroz has included Real Madrid defender Pepe in his selection for the upcoming World Cup qualifier with Albania.

The moves comes as a surprise as Pepe received a ten-match ban for lashing out at an opponent in Real Madrid’s league game with Getafe in April. The suspension will carry over into next season.

Also worth noting is the return of West Ham United winger Luis Boa Morte, who hadn’t been called up since August 2006. The only newcomer in the squad is Deportivo la Coruña defender Jose Castro.

Portugal need a victory over Albania on June 6, if they want to keep a chance of making it to next year’s finals. Four days later, Quieroz and his men face Estonia in a friendly.