Having won a first major tournament at Euro 2016, can Cristiano Ronaldo now inspire the Seleccao again?
Portugal stunned Europe in 2016 after winning the European Championships despite rarely looking like potential winners until the semi-final.
Under pragmatic boss Fernando Santos, the Seleccao claimed a first ever major tournament success in France, despite drawing all three group games and managing just one win inside 90 minutes.
Now ranked No.3 in the world by FIFA, a side full full of experience, including Pepe (35), Rui Patricio (30), Joao Moutinho (31), Nani (31) and, of course, all-time record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo (33), will have one final fling at the World Cup.
Santos has shown loyalty to his veterans – and been repaid – while also bringing through younger stars such as Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Raphael Guerreiro and Andre Silva, giving the side a mixture of youth and experience, nous and speed.
“Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Germany and France are the favourites to win the World Cup,” says the Portugal coach, Fernando Santos, before adding: “Then we have other candidates, who want to get as far as possible, and win the tournament if possible, and Portugal are in this second group.” Santos is cautious, despite winning Euro 2016 but he is looking forward to the World Cup with optimism and does so with good reason: Portugal seem stronger now than a year and a half ago, having added creativity to the defensive organisation that underpinned the 2016 title. Bernardo Silva and André Silva have been important factors in this attacking upgrade and in general the team have more depth. The one area which is perhaps weaker is the defence, where it has been hard to find replacements for Pepe (who will be 35 next summer), José Fonte (34) and Bruno Alves (36).
The big question regards whether Ronaldo can shine on the world stage and light up the major finals with his goalscoring; dumped out at the group stage in 2014, he has a much stronger support cast backing him up this time. Andre Silva has proven an excellent foil also, but has endured a difficult season at AC Milan after a big-money move.
Their opener against Spain offers an early test, but they’ll expect to get past Morocco and Iran, before heading into the knockout stages…a road they proved two years ago that they know how to travel.
Form guide
The Seleccao lost their opening World Cup qualifier in Switzerland, but won the following nine – including a must-win decider against the previously unbeaten Swiss – to book their finals spot.
That initial defeat to the Swiss apart, Portugal have lost just one friendly in the past 18 months – 3-2 at home to Sweden last March – while they finished third in the Confederations Cup last summer, having been beaten on penalties by Chile in the semi-final.
Star player
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo remains absolutely pivotal to the Seleccao, their biggest star and chief supplier of goals.
He doesn’t run down the flank as much as he did in his youth, and the step-overs are far more infrequent, but there simply isn’t a better big-game goalscorer on the planet.
His relationship with pragmatic coach Fernando Santos remains crucial, and this is, almost certainly, his last chance to win a World Cup.
Rising Star
Bernardo Silva
The former Benfica and Monaco playmaker Bernardo Silva experienced a slow start to his Manchester City career due to injury and the form of Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling, but the fleet-footed star has become increasingly important at the Etihad.
Extremely skillful, clever with his use of the ball and cutting in the final third, the 23-year-old missed out on Euro 2016 due to injury; he’ll be looking to make up for lost time in Russia.
How they qualified Winners of European Group B ahead of Switzerland
Preferred system 4-4-2
Star player Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
One to watch Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Manager Fernando Santos
Odds 20-1
Head 2 Head
Iran & Portugal met twice. The first meeting in Brazil was 36 years ago in Brazil Centenary tournament. Portugal was one of the best teams in the World at that time with the great Eusebio leading the attack. Iran was the top team in Asia but with an aging golden generation players such as Kalani, Iranpak, Halvaei and Arab.
The next meeting was in the World Cup 2006,where the two teams have met in the group stage. It was a tough match for both team. Cristiano Ronaldo remains the only survivor from that match. He also scored a goal against Mirzapour. Portugal included two legendary players Luis Figo and Deck in that team.
Portugal had the upper hand in both the matches with 5 goals scored and none conceded.
| Date | Comp. | H / A / N | Final score | Stadium | Attendance |
| 17.Jun.2006 | FIFA World Cup / Group D | N | 0 – 2 | Waldstadion , Frankfurt | 48,000 |
| 14.Jun.1972 | Brazil Independance Cup | N | 0 – 3 | Santa Cruz Stadium, RECIFE | 115,000 |