Portugal – Participating teams in the Euro 2024 tournament

With Cristiano Ronaldo still going strong, Portugal head into this summer’s European Championship in high spirits. Can the 2016 winners claim a second Euro triumph in 2024? 

We take a look at Portugal’s potential squad for the finals, check back on how they qualified, and explore their expected performances in Germany. Keep reading this in-depth Portugal preview as we analyse their chances of winning this summer’s showpiece event. 

The Portuguese Football Team in the Euro Football Tournament

As one of the top seeds, Portugal were in Pot 1 for the draw. As a result, they will avoid the likes of Germany, England, and France in the group stage. 

The Portuguese will play in Group F at the 2024 European Championship. They will face Turkey, Czech Republic, and the play-off C winners. Roberto Martinez’s men are the clear favourites to win the group and advance through to the Round of 16. 

Portugal’s campaign starts with a game against the Czechs at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig. The Portuguese will be looking to get off to a winning start, but Czech Republic have some decent players and could be a tough nut to crack. 

After the opening game with the Czechs, Portugal make their way to the beautiful city of Dortmund for their second Group F fixture on June 22nd. Martinez’s men will take on Turkey, who had an impressive qualifying campaign. 

Their third and final game in the group will be against the play-off C winners in Gelsenkirchen on June 26th. They will play Georgia, Luxembourg, Greece, or Kazakhstan. Whoever wins the play-offs will be the underdogs against Portugal at Arena AufSchalke. 

There are no easy games in major tournaments, but Portugal should finish in the first two of Group F. If they take the top spot, the Portuguese will play against one of the third-place teams from Group A, B, or C in Stuttgart in the Round of 16. If they are runners-up in their group, Portugal’s last-16 match will be played in Leipzig on July 2nd. 

Portugal’s World Cup record is not the greatest. Their best performance in recent times came in Germany in 2006, when they reached the semi-finals and finished in fourth place. They also managed a third-place finish in England in 1966 in their first World Cup appearance. 

However, they have fared far better in the European Championship over the years. They reached the semi-finals in 1984, 2000, and 2012. The Portuguese finally won a major trophy in 2016, lifting the Euro Cup on French soil. 

The European Championship in 2016 was a memorable one for the Portuguese. Incredibly, they failed to win a group fixture, drawing all three, but went through in Group F as one of the best third-place teams. They drew 1-1 with Iceland, 0-0 with Austria, and 3-3 with Hungary.

However, Portugal came to life in the knockout phase of the competition. In the Round of 16, Portugal secured an extra-time win over Croatia in Lens. They then booked their spot in the semi-finals by beating Poland on penalties. 

Portugal proved to be too hot to handle for Wales in the last four, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani scoring in a 2-0 win against the Dragons. That set up a final tie against tournament hosts France. 

Portugal went into the final as the underdogs. However, despite losing Ronaldo through injury early on, they dug in and forced extra time. In the 109th minute of the match, Eder hit the winner for Portugal to break France’s hearts.  

They won the Euro Cup on French soil in 2016 by winning just one match in 90 minutes. Still, they went through the entire tournament without losing and fully deserved to get their hands on the trophy in France. 

Portugal are hoping to rekindle the spirit of 2016 by going all the way in Germany eight years later. They are one of the top seeds and could be a team to watch out for in the 2024 edition. 

Portugal’s Road to the European Championship 2024

Portugal were one of the first nations to qualify for the 2024 European Championship finals. They won Group J at a canter, collecting maximum points. They scored an incredible 36 goals, which was the most by far. They also conceded the fewest, letting in just two.  

Portugal’s dominant qualifying campaign started with a comfortable 4-0 home win against minnows Liechtenstein in Lisbon. The evergreen Christiano Ronaldo helped himself to a brace in the rout. 

Ronaldo grabbed another two on matchday two as Portugal ran riot in Luxembourg. They secured an easy 6-0 win, with Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix, and Rafael Leao also among the scorers. 

Manchester United man Bruno Fernandes was the hero against Bosnia and Herzegovina in game three. Fernandes bagged a double after Manchester City’s Silva opened the scoring at the Estadio da Luz. 

Ronaldo scored late in a hard-fought 1-0 win in Iceland in the next game. The match was heading for a goalless draw, but Ronaldo had other ideas. His late goal came in his 200th appearance for the national side. 

Portugal then put nine past Luxembourg at the Estadio Algarve on matchday five. Despite only being at the halfway stage, Portugal already had one foot in the Euro Cup finals. Six players got on the scoresheet in the romp against Luxembourg. 

Portugal officially booked their ticket to Germany with a home win against the Slovakians in October. It was a five-goal thriller in Porto, with the Portuguese nicking a 3-2 win on home soil. Ronaldo scored another brace, and the two Slovakia goals were the only ones they conceded during the qualifying campaign.

The job was complete, but Martinez’s men secured another massive win three days later. Yet another Ronaldo double and goals from Fernandes, Joao Cancelo, and Felix earned a 5-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica. 

Ronaldo and Cancelo netted in a 2-0 victory away at Liechtenstein in the penultimate match, and Portugal ended an unforgettable qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win against Iceland in Lisbon. 

Portugal won ten out of ten, scored the most qualifying goals, and conceded the fewest. Ronaldo finished as the top scorer in the group with ten goals, while Fernandes helped himself to six.  

Portugal’s Star Players in the Team

Despite turning 39 this February, Cristiano Ronaldo is the man to watch in Germany. Having scored ten goals in qualifying, the Portuguese legend still has the appetite, though this is likely to be his last major international tournament.  

Ronaldo played an integral role in Portugal’s Euro Cup success eight years ago, but his injury in the final will still haunt him. Can the Al Nassr forward guide his nation to European glory this summer? 

Alongside Ronaldo, Portugal have many great options in attack. Martinez is spoilt for choice in the forward areas, with top players such as Joao Felix, Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and Goncalo Ramos all ready to play star roles. 

Leao could be one of the main men for Portugal this summer. The AC Milan ace is one of Europe’s hottest prospects, and the big clubs will be battling for his signature this summer. Leao will want to put on a show in the finals. 

At the other end of the pitch, Portugal have three top goalkeepers. Roma’s Rui Patricio is hoping to get the nod ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Jose Sa and Porto’s Diogo Costa. 

At the back, Nelson Semedo, Ruben Dias, Diogo Dalot, and Joao Cancelo will have important roles to play this summer. Pepe, who will be 41 by the time the finals come around, is also hoping to be a part of Martinez’s squad. 

Ronaldo remains the main man, but Portugal have a whole host of attacking talent at their disposal. They are solid at the back, conceding just two goals in qualifying, and their midfield is one of the best on paper. The Portuguese will have one of the strongest squads in the 2024 European Championship. 

Portugal’s Chances of Winning the 2024 European Championship

Portugal could fly under the radar and be the team to watch in Germany. Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded by many as the best player of all time, but this could be his final major tournament for his national side. 

Under Fernando Santos in 2016, Portugal defied the odds and went on to lift the trophy in France. They were knocked out of the 2020 edition in the Round of 16 by Belgium, but Portugal are ready to bounce back in 2024. 

The Portuguese were the standout team in qualifying, picking up 30 points from a possible 30. They face a play-off winner, Turkey, and Czech Republic in the group, and Martinez’s men will be looking for maximum points. You can bet on all three Portugal group games right here at Unibet.

With Ronaldo at the forefront and many top players in the side, Portugal are looking strong. Many will be backing the Portuguese to go all the way this summer.