Cristano Ronaldo will lead Portugal to another European Championship with hopes of glory, and with the help of Ruben Dias the country could achieve yet another upheaval.
Portugal may be ignored by some, but if history has told us anything it’s that they should never be counted.
. – .
Dias and Fonte started off together in defense as Portugal beat the Netherlands to win the 2019 Nations League.
After beating France at the Euros in 2016, a game no one saw them win, they have proven themselves as a team not to be underestimated.
Bookies place them sixth on the favorites behind France, England, Belgium, Spain and Germany, but they have a wealth of talent in their ranks that can cause problems for any team.
Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, the superstar will want to show why he is considered one of the greatest of all time after a disappointing season with Juventus.
Ronaldo may have finished Serie A top scorer with 29 goals, but Juventus’ decade of dominance was shattered by Inter Milan.
It was even difficult to make it into the top four as they suffered another disappointing Champions League exit.
The superstar will have to bring the heroism that won him his last international trophy if he has a chance this summer.
GETTY
Portugal will look to Ronaldo for leadership.
Portugal share a squad with France and Germany, which means one of the best countries won’t qualify and an intense battle of discord could ensue.
With CR7 on their squad, you might be surprised to hear that the key to team success actually lies in their defense.
With Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Pepe and Raphael Gurrerio as full back four, it will take incredible talent to score against them.
Their whole team is full of talent with personalities like Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Joao Felix also in their ranks.
The squad
. – .
Portugal has a stronger side than a lot of people might think.
Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Olympique Lyon), Rui Patricio (Wolves), Rui Silva (Granada)
Defenders: Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Nelson Semedo (Loups), Jose Fonte (Lille), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Nuno Mendes (Sportif), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielder : Danilo Pereira (Paris St Germain), Joao Palhinha (Sporting), Ruben Neves (Loups), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Moutinho (Loups), Renato Sanches (Lille), Sergio Oliveira (Porto), William Carvalho (Real Betis )
Forward: Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting), Andre Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Goncalo Guedes (Valence), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Rafa Silva (Benfica) .
The star man: Ruben Dias
.
Ruben Dias was third in Portugal’s Man City trio who helped them win the Premier League
With Ronaldo on your squad, someone else being the star man might seem like profanity, but Ruben Dias was really that good.
At just 24, Dias has turned Man City’s defense into the most formidable in the Premier League.
His willingness to put his body on the line, place himself in front of any shot and organize his four fullbacks led Pep Guardiola’s side to a domestic double and their very first Champions League final.
France and Germany, two of the Portuguese squad’s teams both have brilliant firepower, and if Portugal are to have any chance of making it through the group stage, defense will be key.
The FWA footballer of the year already has 27 international caps to his name, if he can replicate his exploits in the Champions League semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal are in good hands.
A surveiller : Pedro Gonçalves
. or licensors
Goncalves has been in mind-blowing scoring form this season.
Pedro Gonçalves is a more familiar name in Portugal, but the attacking midfielder has spent time in England.
His first and only appearance was for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018 before returning to Portugal.
This season, the youngster has scored 23 goals in 32 appearances for Sporting Lisbon and is already linked with a move to Liverpool.
Labeled as ‘the next Bruno Fernandes’, the midfielder is known for his technical ability and cruelty in front of goal, two very important skills for an attacking player.
Gonçalves has not yet obtained his first international selection, will he be able to impress on the biggest stage in the world?
The manager: Fernando Santos
Fernando Santos has been doing well since joining Portugal.
Fernando Santos has enjoyed enormous success since his arrival in 2014.
The former defender led Portugal to their only European Championship title in 2016, beating a France side considered the big favorite.
He also led Portugal to a UEFA Nations League victory in 2019, beating the Netherlands to secure the victory.
Santos will be tasked with dealing with the ‘death group’ if he is to win the Euro, and although they are expected to come out of the group, it will be a difficult task.
With the aging of key players Pepe and Ronaldo, the manager will have to rely on his young players to make an impact.
Lighting
All matches live on talkSPORT
June 4 – Spain vs Portugal 6.30 p.m. (friendly)
June 9 – Portugal vs Israel 7:45 p.m. (friendly)
June 15 – Portugal vs Hungary 20:00
June 19 – Portugal vs Germany 5:00 p.m.
June 23 – France vs Portugal 20:00
WIN £ 50,000 with Dream Team Euros
Dream Team Euros is here
The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
And you can play absolutely FREE for a chance to win the £ 50,000 jackpot.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE !
Euros from the Dream Team
£ 50,000 jackpot The best fantasy football game this summer Play in mini-leagues against your friends, colleagues, family members – and handpicked celebrities for FREE to play
–
