Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari [Images] left winger Ricardo Quaresma out of the squad of 23 players he announced on Monday for next month's World Cup in Germany [Images].

Scolari ignored Quaresma, who helped Porto win the league and the Portuguese Cup, but retained players who are recovering from injury or are not playing regularly for their teams.

The biggest loss from the squad was central defender Jorge Andrade, who is recovering from knee surgery. He will be replaced by Porto's Ricardo Costa.

Midfielder Costinha, dropped by Dynamo Moscow [Images] for disciplinary reasons, was given permission by the Russian club to train in Portugal to regain his form to play in the World Cup.

Apart from those with injuries, Scolari has kept the same players he fielded in the 2004 European campaign, where Portugal lost to Greece in the final.

Scolari said he had not yet decided on his line up.

"I still have not defined the 11. I only have seven or eight defined to start in the friendly with Cape Verde," he said. "As of now it will be a tough fight but a good one."

Portugal have been drawn to play Angola, Mexico and Iran in Group D at the finals starting on June 9.

Asked which game would be the hardest, Scolari said: "It is always the first one...after that it is the second and the third."

"I would like you to be aware of Iran. They are a very strong side, we have to respect them. Mexico also has a very technically advanced side and Angola will bring difficulties," Scolari said.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ricardo Pereira (Sporting), Quim Silva (Benfica), Bruno Vale (Estrela Amadora)

Defenders: Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Miguel Monteiro (Valencia), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart), Marco Caneira (Sporting), Ricardo Costa (Porto), Nuno Valente (Everton)

Midfielders: Armando Petit (Benfica), Costinha (Dynamo Moscow), Tiago Mendes (Olympique Lyon), Maniche Ribeiro (Chelsea), Hugo Viana (Valencia), Luis Figo (Inter Milan), Deco (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo [Images] (Manchester United [Images]), Simao Sabrosa (Benfica)

Forwards: Luis Boa Morte (Fulham), Pauleta (Paris ST Germain) Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Helder Postiga (Saint Etienne)