Ronaldo’s last shot at Fifa World Cup glory

Portugal has suffered several group stage eliminations, but none as shocking as at Japan/Korea 2002.

What you need to know:

  • Team Countdown - Portugal. Portugal for a change managed to secure World Cup qualification without having to rely on the playoffs, so there’s a positive if anyone really wants to scrape for one.
  • Yet, Portugal being Portugal still had to wait until the final qualifier, at home to Switzerland, for it to level the group on points and book its place courtesy of a superior goal difference.

The plus 28 goal difference was a result of 32 goals scored and only four conceded in 10 qualifying games, but don’t laugh when you read that half the teams in their group were Andorra, Latvia and Faroe Islands. The bigger story is that the Portuguese can at least finally score goals, yet they have not lost any of their solidity of old.
The biggest change however is a fresh breath of self-belief that winning the Euros two years ago injected. Post 2016, A Seleccao is less tentative, even if there hasn’t been a cure found yet for the overreliance on Cristiano Ronaldo; he scored half of the goals that took Portugal to Russia, but he is also 33.

How they play
Portugal plays compact, with their excellent central midfielders happy to probe patiently. The attacks are based on combination play in wide areas and crosses, with Ronaldo as the prime target.

Strengths
Any team that has Cristiano Ronaldo has a chance. Additionally, the organisation that has been a hallmark for a decade or so remains, and it makes Portugal hard to beat.

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Weaknesses
There is an overreliance on Ronaldo, even if he has yet to provide a memorable performance at the Word Cup. Plus, the central defence is likely to have an average of 35 no matter who is selected.

Star man
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored just three World Cup goals, but has 81 in 149 caps. Just one moment of brilliance from him can turn a game.

One to watch
Andre Silva managed nine goals in 10 qualifying games for Portugal, and although he hasn’t set the San Siro alight since joining AC Milan, he is Portugal’s most promising striker in more than a decade.

Prospects
Portugal’s six World Cup appearances feature three first round exits, so no one should be overly excited by the fact that the Portuguese ended up in a Group B which features only Spain as heavyweights. Even if the other teams in the group are lowly Iran and Morocco, Portugal has a habit of making life hard for itself from time to time, only that they probably will not this time. A last shot at World Cup glory for Ronaldo is unlikely to end in triumph, however.

World Cup Low
Portugal has suffered several group stage eliminations, but none as shocking as at Japan/Korea 2002.

World Cup Legend
Eusébio scored nine times at the 1966 finals to finish as the tournament’s top scorer.

Fifa ranking
Portugal are ranked No.4 by Fifa.

Coach
Fernando Santos

Fact file

How they qualified:
Topped European qualifying Group B
WC Appearances: 6
World Cup Record: 1966 - Third place;
1986 - First round; 2002 - First round;
2006 - Fourth place; 2010 - Second round;
2014 - First round
Overall Record: P26, W13, D4, L9
Best performance: Third place in 1966
WC High: Eusébio scored four goals in one
match as Portugal beat North Korea 5-3 in
the quarter-finals of the 1966 World Cup

Probable lineup

1. Rui Patricio
2. Cedric Soares
3. Pepe
4. Bruno Alves
5. Raphael Guerreiro
6. William Carvalho
7. Joao Mario
8. Joao Moutinho
9. Bernardo Silva
10. Cristiano Ronaldo (captain)
11. Andre Silva

In the headlines