An unpredictable group to a certain extent with EURO 2004 finalists Portugal, co-hosts Switzerland, great Euro performers Czech Republic and Turkey taking part.
Portugal should be named as favourites to win this group. They have the best options and quality on the wings with the likes of Nani, Quaresma, Simao Sabrosa and the almighty Ronaldo creativity should be no problem. 2002 world champion and well respected coach Luis Felipe Scolari likes to employ a 4-2-3-1 formation that provides good cover for the defence with 2 holding midfielders and plenty of creativity. Scolari likes to put Ronaldo in the lone striker role, which could be an attempt to fit all the flair players in his starting line up but it could be that Portugal never boasted a world class out and out striker. Pauleta never made the grade in international football and he s been left out this time around with Nuno Gomes always better coming off the bench as well as Helder Postiga. Ricardo should get the nod as No 1 although he has spent most of his season on the bench at Real Betis in Spain. Defence looks solid with Carvallho and Pepe at the centre newly-signed Chelsea player Bosingwa on the right and Marco Caneira at the left.
PROS AND CONS
PROS:
1) Best player in Europe in Ronaldo
2) Great wing players
3) Scolari has been there for 6 years now so squad is settled with tactics etc.
4) settled defence with lots of choices from the bench aka Fernando Meira, P. Ferreira, Miguel
CONS:
1)Goalkeeping situation, Ricardo has not played Rui Patrico and Quim have not had great seasons
2)Deco has been out of form all season
3)No quality out and out striker
PORTUGAL ROSTER
Goalkeepers
Rui Patrício
Ricardo
Quim
Defenders
Bosingwa
Miguel
Jorge Ribeiro
Pepe
Fernando Meira
Paulo Ferreira
Bruno Alves
Ricardo Carvalho
Midfielders
Nani
Ricardo Quaresma
Deco
Simão
Petit
João Moutinho
Miguel Veloso
Raul Meireles
Forwards
Cristiano Ronaldo
Hélder Postiga
Hugo Almeida
Nuno Gomes
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