Tom Kundert is the editor of the Portugal football website portugoal.net
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Portugal
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Following their exploits in Germany at the 2006 World Cup, where Portugal only succumbed in a narrow semi-final defeat against France, Luiz Felipe Scolari's team had a tougher than expected fight to qualify for Euro 2008 from Group A.
A draw and a defeat in two of their first three matches away at Finland and Poland set the tone for a stuttering campaign that came to a satisfactory albeit unspectacular conclusion when qualification was sealed in a nervy goalless draw at home to Finland in the final Group match.
After coming so close to glory when hosting the last European Championships in 2004, losing the final in heartbreaking fashion to Greece, and impressing at the World Cup two years later, Portugal would appear to be a good bet to go far again this time round.
This soccer-mad nation is blessed with some of the world's finest footballing talent, most notably on the wings where Ricardo Quaresma, Simao Sabrosa and Nani will fight it out to partner the peerless Cristiano Ronaldo on the opposite flank.
Likewise, competition for places will be fierce in central defence, with Ricardo Carvalho, Pepe, Bruno Alves and Fernando Meira all with legitimate claims for a place in the starting line-up.
But how far Portugal go will depend how well Luiz Felipe Scolari integrates these world superstars into a cohesive team – something he all too patently failed to do during an unimpressive qualifying campaign.
To be fair to the charismatic Brazilian, he freely admitted he was juggling a difficult balancing act between the need to get results and the need to renew the team that had lost the likes of Luis Figo and Pedro Pauleta, cornerstones of the Portuguese national side for the previous decade.
Cue the introduction of the extravagantly talented Ricardo Quaresma, the tireless Joao Moutinho and the classy Miguel Veloso, among other up-and-coming stars. As was to be expected, the team is yet to gel and there is a feeling that this tournament may have come a tad too early for this trio who are sure to be automatic starters for their country in the near future.
However, should Scolari manage to mould what is arguably Portugal's most talented ever squad into a well-oiled machine then worldwide football fans -who voted the team the most entertaining side at the 2006 World Cup – are surely in for another treat.
The incredible ascension of the golden boy of Portuguese football shows no sign of abating. Indeed, the consistent brilliance of Ronaldo's play have led many to suggest his career will eclipse that of the great Luis Figo and may even topple the legendary Eusebio of his perch as the greatest Portuguese footballer of all time. A phenomenal record of 20 goals and 53 appearances for his country at just 22 years of age tells its own story.
Touted as the next big money export set to leave Portugal, the Sporting youngster who is equally proficient as a defensive midfielder, in central defence or at left-back, has aroused the interest of many of Europe's biggest clubs, with Real Madrid and Manchester United said to be front-runners for his signature. With Petit, Maniche and Deco all into their thirties, the youthful fizz and high energy levels provided by Veloso could prove invaluable for the Portuguese midfield.
As is so often the case in football, a far from brilliant playing career proved the perfect grounding for a gifted and inspirational coach. After achieving success in club management Scolari lifted the ultimate prize when he guided Brazil to their fifth World Cup triumph in 2002. In contracting Luiz Filipe Scolari, the Portuguese Football Federation could not have chosen a coach with better credentials, although as Portugal's first foreign boss the choice was far from consensual.
But results would prove that Scolari was the right man to coax the best out of an undoubtedly talented but perennially underperforming nation. After falling at the final hurdle as hosts of the 2004 European Championships, Portugal followed up that achievement by reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in Germany to prove it is well and truly among the world's elite footballing nations.
1996: Quarter-finals
2000: Semi-finals
2004: Beaten finalists
Portugal have the greatest set of wingers in the world game. To
take full advantage of the ammunition provided by Ronaldo, Simao,
Quaresma and Nani the Selecçao das Quinas needs one of their
out-and-out strikers to fire.
Portugal have finished quarter-finalists, semi-finalists and beaten
finalists in their last three tournaments. Should either Hugo Almeida
or Makukula hit form they may well make it that one step further.
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)