TEAM

PORTUGAL

GROUP: F

PLAYER TO WATCH: Bernardo Silva

EXPECTED FINISH: Semi-finals

Portugal fixtures

Portugal enter the European Championships as the consensus favourites to win Group F and a legitimate contender to lift the trophy come 14th July. They had a perfect record during qualification – 10 wins from a possible 10 – and boasted the best defence with only two goals conceded.

However, A Seleção have had a problem navigating the group stages in recent European Championships. Since the best-third-placed finisher format was introduced, no one has benefitted more than the Portuguese. They have advanced as a third-placed finisher in the last two tournaments but Roberto Martinez’s side shouldn’t face such difficulties in Germany in a section with Turkey, Georgia and the Czech Republic.

Here are Portugal’s Group F fixtures:

Portugal vs Czech Republic: 18th June (Leipzig Arena)
Turkey vs Portugal: 22nd June (Dortmund Stadium)
Georgia vs Portugal: 26th June (Schalke Arena)

If Portugal finish atop Group F they will face a third-placed team from either Group A, B or C. A second-place finish sets up a more turbulent knockout stage for the Portuguese as they would face the winner of Group D – a section containing Austria, Poland, Netherlands and France. Third place in the group means the possibility of England, Italy or Spain in the first knockout round.

Standings

Venues

Key players

Roberto Martinez’s 26-man squad is expected to blend youthful exuberance with veteran savvy to bring Portugal their second European Championship title in the three attempts. A combination of both should be a recipe for success and the following players will be at the heart of it:

Bernardo Silva

Caps (goals): 88 (11)

Position: Midfielder

Club: Manchester City

Five Premier Leagues, four EFL Cups, two FA Cups and Community Shields, one Champions League and 2019’s Portuguese Footballer of the Year award… there aren’t many players at the European Championships with the title-winning pedigree of Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva.

Since his arrival on the blue side of Manchester, Silva has never had a silverware-less campaign. He is an unbelievably hard-working midfielder with top-class technical ability – however his most valuable asset at the European Championships may be his winning mindset after seven seasons at the Citizens.

Bruno Fernandes

Caps (goals): 64 (20)

Position: Midfielder

Club: Manchester United

Manchester United have had several problems this season but Bruno Fernandes isn’t one of them. Despite being in a poor United side, the Portugal midfielder leads the league in key passes (113) and shot-creating actions (208) this season. His creativity was fully displayed during Portugal’s qualifying campaign, registering six goals and seven assists in 10 games. Fernandes could be the playmaker Portugal require to go on an extended run in Germany.

Rafael Leao

Caps (goals): 24 (4)

Position: Winger

Club: AC Milan

Rafael Leao could be the poster boy for the next generation of Portuguese footballers. He is a pacey and tricky winger who has accrued an impressive record since his move to Italian giants AC Milan in 2019.

Leao has reached double figures in goals or assists in three consecutive years in Serie A, with his most prolific season coming in 2022-23 (15 goals and 10 assists). The winger hasn’t made his mark for the national team quite yet but 2024 could be his breakout summer.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Caps (goals): 206 (128)

Position: Forward

Club: Al-Nassr

He may be 39 years old but Cristiano Ronaldo continues to be a goalscoring phenomenon and one of the greatest to lace up a pair of boots.

The forward has blasted through the 30-goal mark for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League this season, helping them to two cup finals and a second-place finish.

His goalscoring performances at the European Championships is unmatched as well. Netting 55 times across the tournament proper and qualifying stages, Ronaldo is the record scorer for the competition. and 30 ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in second. Those 55 goals have helped towards the 128 he has for Portugal – the most by a men’s footballer at the international level.

Previous performances in the Euros

Portugal reached the pinnacle of European football in 2016 with their first-ever tournament win with a 1-0 win over France. Aside from their shock victory eight years ago, the Portuguese have amassed an impressive record at the European Championships, reaching at least the semi-finals in four of the last six tournaments.

Portugal’s previous performances in the Euros in full:

1960: Did not qualify
1964: Did not qualify
1968: Did not qualify
1972: Did not qualify
1976: Did not qualify
1980: Did not qualify
1984: Semi-finals (lost 3-2 to France)
1988: Did not qualify
1992: Did not qualify
1996: Quarter-finals (lost 1-0 to the Czech Republic)
2000: Semi-finals (lost 2-1 to France)
2004: Runners-up (lost 1-0 to Greece)
2008: Quarter-finals (lost 3-2 to Germany)
2012: Semi-finals (lost on penalties to Spain)
2016: Winner (won 1-0 in extra time against France)
2020: Round of 16 (lost 1-0 to Belgium)

Expectations

Portugal have the squad depth and momentum to go all the way in Germany this summer. A perfect qualification record built on solid defensive foundations should result in them topping Group F.

Finishing at the summit of their section likely provides them with easy passing into the latter stages and the possibility of repeating their 2016 heroics. It may be a step too far with the stronger nations that await them in the quarter-finals and beyond, but it should still be an impressive tournament for Martinez’s men.

Check out our Portugal betting odds for all our latest prices throughout the European Championships.

Odds and player information correct at time of publication but subject to change