While England and France are considered the frontrunners, Portugal shouldn’t be overlooked in the list of contenders vying for the Euro 2024 trophy in Germany this summer.
Following a disappointing performance three years ago, where they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Belgium and a surprising quarter-final exit at the World Cup against Morocco in Qatar, Portugal is determined to show improvement this time around.
After Fernando Santos departed following the defeat to Morocco, Roberto Martinez took over as the head coach. Although his appointment wasn’t universally acclaimed, his impressive start with ten consecutive victories has won over many skeptics.
Portugal boasts a formidable array of goalkeeping talent for the tournament. Diogo Costa from Porto, who has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, is the primary choice, with experienced options like Rui Patricio from Roma and Jose Sa from Wolves ready to step in if needed.
The defensive lineup looks solid with Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo as regular starters, complemented by the versatility of Diogo Dalot from Manchester United on the left flank.
The center-back partner for Dias remains uncertain, with Martinez alternating between formations and giving opportunities to Goncalo Inacio and Antonio Silva, alongside the seasoned Pepe.
While Bruno Fernandes has been a consistent presence in Martinez’s midfield, other positions are up for grabs. The departures of Ruben Neves and Otavio to the Saudi Pro League haven’t affected their international prospects, while Danilo Pereira and Joao Palhinha offer defensive stability.
Martinez’s decision to stick with Cristiano Ronaldo as the primary striker has paid off, with Ronaldo scoring ten goals in his initial nine games under the new coach. Bernardo Silva has been another key figure in the attacking setup, supported by Joao Felix, Rafael Leao, Diogo Jota, and Goncalo Ramos.
The predicted lineup for Portugal features Costa in goal, Cancelo, Dias, Inacio, and Dalot in defense, Palhinha, Fernandes, and either Otavio or Vitinha in midfield, with Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, and Felix leading the attack in a 4-3-3 formation.
Despite his impressive performances in the Primeira Liga, Pedro Goncalves hasn’t earned a call-up, much to the disappointment of Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim. Fabio Vieira misses out due to lack of playing time at Arsenal, while Goncalo Guedes, Andre Silva, and Raphael Guerreiro are excluded due to poor club form. Matheus Nunes of Manchester City also misses out after struggling for playing time under Pep Guardiola.
Portugal performance and stats
It will be Portugal ended the league in the position with points.
It has a even goal difference after scoring goals and conceding .