Portugal name newboy Liedson to salvage World Cup dream

Brazilian striker Liedson, who recently became a Portuguese citizen, was on Wednesday named in the Portugal squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Denmark and Hungary.

Coach Carlos Queiroz has turned to the 31-year-old Sporting Lisbon player with his team struggling to make up ground in the qualifying race for the 2010 finals in South Africa.

Portugal, World Cup semi-finalists in 2006, are currently in third place in Group One with nine points. They are four behind Hungary and seven behind leaders Denmark.

Liedson has played at Sporting since 2003 and is the third Brazilian to play for Portugal following Deco and Pepe.

Portugal squad for World Cup European zone Group One qualifiers against Denmark on September 5 and Hungary on September 9:

Goalkeepers: Beto (FC Porto), Eduardo (Sporting Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon)

Defenders: Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea/ENG), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), José Castro (Deportivo La Coruna/ESP), Miguel (Valence/ESP), Pepe (Real Madrid/ESP), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea/ENG), Rolando (FC Porto).

Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea/ENG), Duda (Sevilla/ESP), Joao Moutinho (Sporting Lisbon), Maniche (Cologne/GER), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Tiago (Juventus/ITA).

Attackers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/ESP), Liedson (Sporting Lisbon), Nani (Man Utd/ENG), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Simao (Atletico Madrid/ESP).