The players deny it, the coach denies it and, at least in public, he denies it, although he probably thinks it; with every furious rebuttal, though, the image simply stains deeper into the consciousness: Portugal are Cristiano Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal.
“In the qualifying round he helped us a lot,” Paulo Bento, the coach, said, “but we will not rely on any player to resolve all problems.
“We try to do things as a team and there will be some players who will help us solve certain problems; in the case of Cristiano, it will be thanks to his talent and dynamism.
“But if anyone should take the burden of pressure, it will be me. Cristiano should not have the added pressure of thinking that winning the European Championship may be decisive in terms of the [World Footballer of the Year award]. It will not be.”
Bento is right, of course: Portugal have a tough, imposing defence including Pepe and Bruno Alves, in front of the talented Rui Patrício, and a midfield conducted by the sumptuous João Moutinho.
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They may have struggled in qualifying — drawing 4-4 with Cyprus, conceding three to Iceland, losing José Bosingwa and Ricardo Carvalho to training-ground arguments with the coach and only edging out Norway for a play-off spot on goal difference — but they have the ability to trouble the very best; crucially so, given their group. If they are to beat them, though, there is only one person who will make the difference. However much they deny it.
Tactics/Coach
Bento, a former Portugal midfielder, has hardly settled in smoothly since replacing the hapless Carlos Queiroz, the former Manchester United assistant manager, enjoying uneasy relationships with many of his squad and qualifying for the finals only by the skin of his teeth.
He is likely to favour a 4-3-3 formation, allowing Ronaldo as much freedom as possible.
Strengths
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Ronaldo. Sixty goals this season for Real Madrid — helping José Mourinho’s team to the Spanish title — is more than enough to suggest that the 27-year-old is at his very peak. It is fair to say that no team in the tournament possess a threat quite so consistent and quite so dangerous in so many ways.
Weaknesses
If Ronaldo fails to fire, Portugal suddenly become a much less daunting proposition. There is a lack of steel in their midfield: against the likes of Holland and Germany, that could be key. Too many of Bento’s players tend to flatter to deceive, Nani being a prime example. If Spain and Germany represent the apogee of collective achievement, Portugal hope to thrive entirely through individual brilliance.
Star player
Predictably enough, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid player will need the likes of Moutinho and Patrício to perform well.
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Saturday, June 11: Germany v Portugal (Arena Lviv, Lviv, 7.45pm, BBC One).
Wednesday, June 15: Denmark v Portugal (Arena Lviv, Lviv, 5pm, ITV1).
Sunday, June 19: Portugal v Holland (Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv, 7.45pm, ITV1).