ROBERTO MARTINEZ’S 100 per cent record as boss came to an unexpected end in Slovenia in March – but they will travel to Germany as realistic contenders.
One player, of course, stands out despite spending the past 18 months in Saudi Arabia – Cristiano Ronaldo.
CR7 is still the face of Portuguese football – even at the ripe old age of 39.
But Manchester City duo Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva head a host of familiar Premier League faces, which also includes Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Jota of Liverpool.
If Portugal turn up with the right attitude, they have a real chance.
But they were miles off it in Qatar in 2022, before being sent packing by Morocco in the last eight.
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Martinez has attempted to bring a more attacking approach to a team that became increasingly dull as the Fernando Santos reign ebbed away.
Yet it remains unclear if the former Everton and Belgium boss will be able to call the shots and truly put his stamp on the side or remain the latest prisoner to Ronaldo’s whims.
Of course, Portugal won the title in 2016 despite finishing third in their group and with Ronaldo limping off in the final. Can they do it again?
Manager: Roberto Martinez
Spaniard has come a long way since becoming one of the ‘Three Amigos’ when he first arrived at Wigan.
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Martinez has been in the international game since 2016 when he began his six-year stint as Belguim’s head coach.
He guided them to a third place finish at the 2018 World Cup, their best-ever position in the competition.
Martinez resigned from the Belgium job after the 2022 World Cup – and became the head coach of Portugal in January 2023.
Since taking over from Fernando Santos, the Spaniard has won 12 of his 13 matches at the helm, and he will be hoping his side can replicate that form at Euro 2024.
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Key man: Cristiano Ronaldo
His 128 international goals is astonishing and despite young talent, Ronaldo is still expected to lead his side out in Germany.
Likely line-up
How they attack
Portugal are are one of the best teams in the competition when it comes to building attacks from the defence.
United transfer target Goncalo Inacio and Dias at centre- back are both comfortable in possession.
And deepest midfielder, Joao Palhinha of Fulham, drops back to help.
Further up the pitch, Portugal have an abundance of highly technical players who can find space to receive the ball.
The likes of Fernandes, Silva and Joao Felix all find areas to hurt the opposition defence.
In the final third, Portugal carry a real goal threat with Fernandes and Felix joining Rafael Leao, and, either Goncalo Ramos or Ronaldo.
As they break into the final third they pin the opposition back by positioning players on the last line to attack the ball.
Portugal like to get players in the box, to overload the opposition who might leave one player unmarked.
How they defend
As with many of the top teams at the tournament this coming summer we can expect to see Portugal defend in a medium to high defensive block as they look to regain possession quickly.
Portugal work against the ball as the opposition are looking to build their attack in a man-to-man system with some zonal marking mixed through.
They are flexible and aggressive against the ball with players working to support Ronaldo, who clearly tends to do less work defensively.
By pressing aggressively, Portugal effectively look to force the opposition down one half of the pitch.
They then move collectively across to pin them in and force mistakes.
The forward players for Portugal will work to apply pressure to the ball deep and try to force a mistake from the opposition.
The press is supported by their man-to-man structure in midfield to make it difficult for the opposition to play out.
Prediction
Portugal are serious contenders this summer.
In Georgia, Turkey and Czech Republic, they have a great group and should win it with ease.
A best third-placed side would then be waiting in the last-16 before a potential quarter-final clash with two nations who finished the group as runners-up.
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Portugal should be making the semi-finals and could go all the way.
Latest odds
William Hill have them as fifth favourites to win it at 8/1.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
