The first time Jorge Andrade injured his left patella tendon with Deportivo La Coruna in the 56th minute of their La Liga match against Barcelona and Samuel Eto’o, it cost him his place in the 2006 World Cup.

After recovering from the initial set back, the Portuguese Center Back signed with Italian giants Juventus (who were coming back from their Serie B sabbatical) after being courted by Manchester United, Chelsea, Inter, Barcelona and Valencia.

Only 4 matches into Juve’s Serie A campaign against Roma, the 50 cap winner suffered a fractured kneecap and the injury would keep him out of the entire 2007/08 season.

After being cleared by Turin doctors and medical staff to start pre-season training for the 2008/09 Serie A campaign and Champions League Qualifying 3rd Round, Andrade suffered a relapse of last years injury during training Thursday.

An official statement from Juventus said: “Jorge Andrade has suffered another serious injury to his left knee. The diagnosis is one of ‘kneecap fracture relapse’ – the same knee bone operated on twice last season. A new surgery will be necessary to repair the bone tissue and it will probably be carried out on Monday in Lisbon. The player is expected to remain out of action for a few months.”

One can only hope the 30 year old Andrade (one of the most highly underrated center backs) is able to regain his health and get back on the field where he belongs.

image via Football

Manchester United’s No 2 Carlos Queiroz has made the highly interesting choice to take the helm of Portugal, replacing outgoing Chelsea head coach Luis Felipe Scolari.

The Mozambique born Queiroz has been mostly successful throughout his career, starting with the Under-20 Portuguese “Golden Generation” (Figo, Rui Costa, Pinto, Jorge Costa and Cuoto), two years with Sporting (where he had good results, but could only win the Portuguese Cup), a famed pit stop in NY with the MetroStars, authored the infamous “Q-Report” for the United States Soccer Federation, Grampus Eight in Japan, UAE (cha-ching), qualified South Africa for the 2002 World Cup, but resigned before the tournament due to a falling out with the South African Federation and subsequently became Sir Alex’s right hand man in Manchester after Steve McLaren headed over to Middlesbrough.

Queiroz spent just a season in Manchester before being lured to the bright lights of Real Madrid, where he was named head coach in the summer of 2003 (and right after David Beckham was signed) but only lasted until May 2004 when Madrid ended the season in 4th place and disappointed in the Champions League.

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This is my favorite time of the 2008 Euros because this is when honesty is at a minimum.

According to Portugal’s Football Federation President Gilberto Maidal, Chelsea holds the torch for “distracting the team” and claiming the team’s Neuchatel hotel was a hot spot for clubs contacting staff and players.

“When we came to the European (Championship) I was already absolutely certain Luiz Felipe Scolari would leave. It’s a pity Chelsea did not take care to advise the FPF the timing of their announcement that they were contracting him.”

Yeah, I can see why the Portuguese big wigs would be pissed about the timing, but what about the circus that is Cristiano Ronaldo and his obvious desire to leave Manchester United after refusing to confirm his intentions from the moment he stepped off the field in Moscow?

Or his marking on the Klose goal or Moutinho shocking miss or Paulo Ferreira’s supposed marking on his Chelsea teammate Michael Ballack or Scolari’s decision to wait on Nani’s substitution introduction until 67th minute when the only success the Portuguese were having against the Germans were on the flanks?

Doubt the blame game is over yet..

image via Cache

It has just been announced that Portugal boss has been confirmed as the new manager at Chelsea. This is definitely a big announcement for the blues, but should it have been done during the Euros? Seems to me that it is better to make the announcement after the tournament and not while you are still in charge of Portugal. I am curious as to what this will do for current players at Stamford Bridge and future targets. I’m sure there will be more to come on this one.

 [Courtesy of ESPN]

Felipe Scolari has left Maniche off the 2008 Euro squad, but the rest of the names are the ones you’re used to seeing.

Portugal have been drawn in Group A alongside Switzerland, Turkey and Czech Republic, and Scolari has set his team a target of making it through the group stages.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ricardo Pereira (Real Betis), Quim Silva (Benfica), Rui Patricio (Sporting) Defenders: Miguel Monteiro (Valencia), Jose Bosingwa (Porto), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart), Bruno Alves (Porto), Pepe (Real Madrid), Jorge Ribeiro (Boavista)

Midfielders: Raul Meireles (Porto), Joao Moutinho (Sporting), Deco (Barcelona), Armando Petit (Benfica), Miguel Veloso (Sporting)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Ricardo Quaresma (Porto), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Nani (Manchester United), Helder Postiga (Panathinaikos)

image via GoogleImage