Euro 2016 Preview - Portugal

Team: Portugal

Manager: Fernando Santos

Group: F

Group Opponents: Iceland, Hungary & Austria

THE SQUAD

Portugal have named an evidently strong squad for the championships with an experienced defence, athletic and physically imposing midfield and lethal attack. Fernando Santos’ decision to leave out the experience of Danny, Miguel Veloso and Fabio Coentrao have been digested and Portugal are now viewed as being a dark horse for the tournament, even though they enter it with suppressed expectations. The tournament is wide open for anybody to win it. Clearly, France, Germany, Spain and Belgium will lead the market, but beware as a Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Portugal could be genuine contenders as the competition progresses towards its July conclusion

Portugal Squad in Full:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício (Sporting CP), Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Eduardo (Dínamo Zagreb)

Defenders: Vieirinha (Wolfsburg), Cédric (Southampton), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Carvalho (Monaco), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahçe), José Fonte (Southampton), Eliseu (Benfica), Raphael Guerreiro (Lorient)

Midfielders: William Carvalho (Sporting CP), Danilo Pereira (Porto), Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich), Adrien Silva (Sporting CP), André Gomes (Valencia), Joao Mário (Sporting CP)

Forwards: Rafa Silva (Braga), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Nani (Fenerbahce), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Éder (Lille)

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Portugal qualified comfortably from Group I, which featured five teams. Fernando Santos’ men finished seven points clear of group runner-up Albania as they waltzed to France having suffered only the one defeat. That defeat came in the first round of the group round robin matches. Albania defeated the Portuguese 1-0 in Aveiro. However, from that point onwards, Portugal won every game scoring 11 goals and conceding just the five throughout the campaign. Their talismanic captain Cristiano Ronaldo finished the campaign as the group’s leading scorer with five goals.

KEY PLAYERS

Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal’s incredible skipper has showed over the past decade as to why he is considered as being one of the game’s greatest players. The Real Madrid man has averaged better than a goal per game for Les Blancos since joining them in 2009 and having scored 21 domestic goals since the turn of the year, Ronaldo, fresh from helping Real Madrid to the Champions League, seems to be in top form. It’s simple, if Ronaldo inspires Portugal then they could well be contenders for the tournament, although if he fails to perform to the levels anticipated, an early exit is imminent.

Joao Moutinho – The Monaco midfielder has been one of the most consistent midfielders across the continent over the past decade. His passing ability, comfort on the ball and technical prowess is under documented meaning that he comes into the tournament as a somewhat unknown quantity. Having amassed 84 caps since making his international debut eleven years ago, the former Porto player will be critical to the functioning of the Portuguese team at EURO 2016.

Rui Patricio – Sporting Lisbon’s ‘keeper Patricio has been the Portuguese first-choice since EURO 2012 when Paulo Bento’s team lost on penalties to eventual champions Spain on penalties at the semi-final stage. He performed heroics during that tournament and he will again need to be at his best if his country are to progress to the latter stages at this summer’s tournament, with the Portuguese defence including a myriad of less than reliable assets.

Where are they playing and staying

14^th June: Portugal vs Iceland, Saint Etienne

18^th June: Portugal vs Austria, Paris

22^nd June: Portugal vs Hungary, Lyon

Portugal are staying in Linas-Marcoussis region of France, a short distance from Paris.

THREE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE TEAM

Portugal have played at six prior European Championship finals, and they have at least reached the quarter-finals on every occasion, reaching the last four three times and the final when hosting the tournament in 2004.

61-year-old Portugal manager Fernando Santos is one of only four managers to have managed Portugal’s ‘Big Three’ clubs: Porto, Benfica & Sporting Lisbon. He also led Greece to the knockout stages at the 2012 European Championships and 2014 World Cup.

Apart from Cristiano Ronaldo, only two other players in the Portuguese 23-man squad have registered double goal scoring figures for A Seleccao – Bruno Alves (10) and Nani (17).

THEIR RECENT FORM

Portugal have a 60% winning record over their past five international matches, defeating Belgium, Norway and dismantling Estonia 7-0. They have however lost to Bulgaria and England recently though, meaning that expectations leading into the tournament are quite low in comparison with previous tournaments

First Game:

14^th June: Portugal vs Iceland, Saint Etienne