Portugal
Friday, 06 Jun 2008 00:00
Glamour runs throughout the Portuguese team and extends to their fans
Portugal finished runners-up in their qualification group, one point behind Poland and three points ahead of Serbia and Finland. They lost just one game the whole campaign but stuttered slightly with a few unsightly draws including, most surprisingly, against Armenia.
Group A fixtures
Portugal v Turkey
Geneva, June 7th 19:45 BST
Live on ITV1
Czech Republic v
Portugal
Geneva, June 11th 17:00 BST
Live on ITV1
Switzerland v
Portugal
Basle, June 15th 19:45 BST
Live on ITV1
European Championship history
Portugal have yet to win the European Championship although they came agonisingly close in 2004 as the host nation. Heading into the final as firm favourites they came up against a stubborn Greece who unexpectedly turned them over 1-0.
The man in charge
Luiz Felipe Scolari will take charge of the Portuguese national side perhaps for the last time this summer.
The Brazilian coach is in huge demand at present, having refused to confirm his future with Portugal, and is being lined up to fill a number of high-profile club positions including at Chelsea.
Having led Portugal to the final of Euro 2004, Scolari will be looking to go one step better in Austria-Switzerland. Big Phil boasts a very impressive record during his time in charge, including leading Portugal to the semi-finals in the 2006 World Cup after seeing off England and the Netherlands along the way.
Four years previously he won the World Cup with Brazil in South Korea and Japan.
Team forte
The Portuguese team is brimming with flair and skill, epitomised by Cristiano Ronaldo. Scolari has developed a very hardworking ethic in the team and Portugal will keep on fighting until the very end.
Achilles heel
Their defence may be a slight worry and is not nearly as formidable as their attacking threat. Ronaldo's tendancy to sulk if things do not go his way and refuse to track back may harm Portugal when they need him most. Chelsea's new £16.5 million purchase Bosingwa does look a very useful prospect, however and, may help sure up the creaking defence.
Player to watch
The best player in the world at the moment, Manchester United's Ronaldo, will not only be the player to watch in the Portuguese team but also the player to watch in the tournament as a whole. The English Premier League's and Champions League's top scorer may well be unstoppable in the coming weeks.
Chances of victory
Very high. Portugal have been handed a comparatively easy group, especially as their main rivals have all been put together in the 'group of death'. Group A should provide the 2004 runners-up with little difficulty and they should progress on maximum points.
A quarter-final match against Croatia seems the most likely outcome from group B, followed by a semi-final game against favourites Germany.
It would be very fitting for Scolari to go one better than four years ago when huge complacency denied victory on home soil. If Ronaldo remains fit and Ricardo remains on the brilliant form which dumped England out of the World Cup, there should be no stopping Portugal lifting the trophy at the end of the summer.
Squad
Goalkeepers
1 Ricardo
12 Quim
22 Rui Patricio
Defenders
2 Paulo Ferreira
3 Bruno Alves
4 Bosingwa
5 Fernando Meira
13 Miguel
14 Jorge Ribeiro
15 Pepe
16 Ricardo Carvalho
Midfielders
6 Raul Meireles
8 Petit
10 Joao Moutinho
18 Miguel Veloso
20 Deco
Forwards
7 Cristiano Ronaldo
9 Hugo Almeida
11 Simao
17 Ricardo Quaresma
19 Nani
21 Nuno Gomes
23 Helder Postiga