Euro 2008

Footballing World editor Matthew Day offers his prediction for Euro 2008 as the tournament gets underway.

Luiz Felipe Scolari has worked wonders with the Portugal side

The European Championships can be harder to win than the World Cup - fewer nations, higher quality. But Greece would never have won the World Cup yet produced a miracle in the 16-nation tournament to stun the footballing world. Their victory suggests that the Euros are inferior to their bigger brother but no less difficult to predict.

Despite a population of a little more than 10 million, Portugal possess all the attributes to succeed at Euro 2008. Having done little on the international stage since the 1984 Euros, their ‘Golden Generation’ of the second millennium surprised all by reaching the semis of the 2000 European Championships and despite disappointment in 2002, got to the Euro 2004 final when hosting the event and followed it up with another last four appearance in Germany two years ago.

With a new generation of talent, Portugal look irresistible.

The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Miguel Veloso, João Moutinho and Ricardo Quaresma are the youthful, dexterous element of the side. These four midfielders would earn a place in any top side on the continent. Along with other extremely gifted players like Nani and Hugo Almeida, Portugal have a frightening attacking line.

None of the aforementioned six players are over 24 and their average age is just 22.5. Yet despite their apparent youthfulness, each can tear apart opposing defences with a mix of skill, exuberance and pace and while other nations are relying heavily on old heads to progress, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s squad depends heavily on tomorrow’s talent - and such a strategy could pay the ultimate dividend this time around after several near misses over the last decade.

Only two outfield players are over 30 and the squad’s balance is superb. Two experienced goalkeepers and a distinguished defence is amalgamated with thrilling midfielders and a potent attack. If the squad lives up to its potential, there is no reason why they can’t win. And win with some flair.

Portugal won the ‘Most Entertaining Team’ award for their play during the 2006 World Cup, despite only netting seven goals in seven matches (and Argentina were surely the most exciting side). But two years on, they genuinely threaten to entertain the peninsula with an array of endowed players. Portugal could well be the Argentina of these Euros.

Their main weakness lies with the lack of out-and-out forwards. With Pauleta out of the picture, veteran Nuno Gomes and the inconsistent Hélder Postiga will join Almeida in leading the line for Portugal but whoever Scolari selects, none of the three have scoring records to set pulses racing. Almeida has 16 goals in 50 Werder Bremen appearances; Gomes netted just six goals last season while Postiga was sent to Panathinaikos on loan in January by Porto, who have since sold him.

Clearly, much of their work can be done by the attacking midfielders - Ronaldo has proven himself a brilliant goal-scorer while Deco and Simão both contribute and Nani could explode into action after a disappointing year for new club Manchester United.

The omens are good for Scolari and co. They have been handed a relatively simple group to progress from, with their main opposition for the top two spots coming from an unpredictable Turkish team and a Czech Republic side who are a shadow of their 2004 selves. And with Uefa having changed the way the knockout fixtures are devised Portugal, who are in Group A, will need to beat two Group B opponents, or one from Group B in the last eight and a team they had already played in the group stages again in the semis, in order to reach the final. One of those ties is likely to be against Germany, but that is as tough as it will get.

This Portugal side is certainly capable of beating Germany - who are the bookie’s favourites - and if they do so, few would bet against them triumphing on June 29 in Vienna. Largely unfancied, Portugal could revel in their underdog status, which will be warmly welcomed after the immense pressure placed upon them at Euro 2004. Then, they failed to win when they should have. Now, no one expects as Spain, Germany and France dominate the pre-tournament talk.

A Portugal victory in 2008 would surely be as unexpected as Greece’s four years ago.

Tags: Cristiano Ronaldo, Euro 2008, Greece, Hélder Postiga, Hugo Almeida, João Moutinho, Luis Nani, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Miguel Veloso, Nuno Gomes, Portugal, Ricardo Quaresma

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