The Portuguese national team aren’t going to be the favourites to win Euro 2016, and that makes for a good chance for a nice value bet on them being the champions.

Portugal have never won a World Cup or a European Championship in its history. Players like Eusebio, Luís Figo, Deco, Rui Costa and others, have tried to lead Portugal to silverware, but have ultimately failed. Figo, Deco and Costa came closest to this when at Euro 2004, which incidentally was played in Portugal, they reached the final, only to have their hearts broken by a resilient Greek side managed and drilled by the legendary Otto Rehhagel. 

Now, at Euro 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo will try to do what everyone else before him failed to do, and that is to lead his country to their first major trophy in their talent rich history.

Welcome back for the final edition of PortuGOAL’s three-part series offering you a look at how some of Portugal’s best players have performed in the first half of the 2015/16 season. Having looked at the most promising candidates in defence and midfield, Nathan Motz will now turn his attention to the most vexing division of Portugal’s 4-3-3 formation: the front three.

Join him as he delves into the complex, frustrating, and often controversial discussion concerning the right blend of attacking talent that should accompany Cristiano Ronaldo at this summer’s Euro 2016 finals in France.

Last week, PortuGOAL.net brought you part one of an in-depth review of Portugal’s most likely candidates for next summer’s European Championship, beginning with goalkeepers and defenders.

Now Seleção correspondent Nathan Motz is back with part two in the series, an evaluation of Portugal’s growing crop of midfield playmakers. Follow along as Nathan inspects Portugal’s best options, and how they ultimately might fit into Fernando Santos’ tactical design for Euro 2016 in France.

With the arrival of the New Year comes the anticipation of great things ahead for the Portuguese National Team. Despite the U20 and U21 squads failing to obtain silverware in the summer of 2015, there is an ever-growing belief that this generation could end Portugal’s long wait for a major tournament trophy. But of course, Portugal’s “old guard” still has a point to prove as well. Cristiano Ronaldo, João Moutinho, Fábio Coentrão, and Pepe are the backbone of a squad that is only in the initial phases of rebuilding. But what combination of players, young and old, look most likely to shine next summer in France?

Seleção correspondent Nathan Motz has spent the last four months observing Portuguese talent in Spain, Germany, France, Turkey, and of course, Portugal. Join him as he assesses the individual performances of key players during the first half of the 2015-16 season in a three-part series beginning with a look at Portugal’s goalkeeping and defensive options.