The Portuguese national team has a good chance to taste continental glory at the Euros in Germany, provided they use their full potential. And he is - enormous.
If England and France are the first favorites to win the European Championship, then "Selesao" definitely belongs to the group of sections that are lurking from the second row for a chance to win the trophy.
Should it be emphasized - the Portuguese have a much better team than before Euro 2016, when they ascended the continental throne for the first and only time in history, winning the European Championship with a sensational victory in the final against the host France.
After an unconvincing performance at the previous EP three years ago, when they were eliminated by Belgium in the round of 2022, and then a shocking defeat by Morocco in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar XNUMX, the Portuguese arrive motivated to show that they belong to the very top of Europe.
The hardened Fernando Santos left the position of selector after that defeat against the North African national team, he was succeeded by the Spaniard Roberto Martinez. The former Belgium coach was not a universally popular choice, the Seleção fans were not thrilled, but the former Everton manager has done an impressive job so far, as his side have won each of his first 10 games on the bench.
Martinez's list is practically "buried" with players of miraculous talent, and they are led by a veteran - 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, the striker of Saudi Al Nasr, who, after an unreal 207 games in the national team jersey, with 130 goals scored (record after record), this should will be the last major competition in an impressive career. Or does CR7 have other plans, the World Cup in America is in "only" two years?
That is the story for the days and months after the Euros, and exactly Ronaldo's role is the main mystery of the Portuguese team on the eve of the start of the European Championship.
The previous coach Santoš took a risk at the World Cup in Qatar, replaced Ronaldo, moved him to the bench (he was a reserve in the 1/8 finals and 1/4 finals), took a risk and - lost. Because all he got were fights with one of the best players of all time, then relegation, then dismissal.
How Martinez will treat the former star of Manchester United, whether he will use him as a "joker" or an indispensable member of the first line-up, as he mostly did during the qualifiers, remains to be seen.
Perhaps the dilemma (if it existed at all) was removed by the last friendly match before the trip to Germany - two goals by Ronaldo in a 3:0 victory over the Republic of Ireland.
But the legendary Ronaldo, as great as he is, is not the main strength of Portugal, perhaps for the first time.
The greatest strength is the quality and playing potential "scattered" in all lines of the team.
Diogo Košta, the 24-year-old goalkeeper of Porto, is the main choice in goal, because Roma's Rui Patricio (36) and Wolverhampton's Jose Sa (31) are already old and there will be alternatives at the Euro.
The Portuguese defense is a combination of masters in the last line, such as City's Ruben Dias and 22-year-old Sporting defender Gonzalo Ignacio, and breakthrough defenders such as Cancelo (Barcelona) and Dalot (Manchester City), and for such a defense to have solidity, one is also needed "Senator" - it is, of course, the 41-year-old, indefatigable Pepe.
Paris Saint-Germain's Vitinja, Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United, Bernardo Silva from Manchester City, 19-year-old Joao Neves from Benfica, along with the somewhat more experienced Palinha from Fulham (going to Bayern) and Ruben Neves (Al Hilal) form a noble midfield that is great supporting the lavish attacking line, the greatest strength of the Portuguese team.
Who's all there? Along with Ronaldo, Martinez is counting on Liverpool's Diogo Jota, Milan's Rafael Lea, Barcelona's Joao Felix, PSG's Gonzalo Ramos, Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton) and Porto's talented 21-year-old Francisco Konsais.
Portugal is the big favorite in Group F, which includes the Czech Republic, Turkey and Portugal, and then? Everything is possible, everything...
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