Forget club football - Portugal is poised for International Success

Internationals / Alsy / 26 September 2007 / Leave a Comment

Alister Morgan reckons Big Phil's mob are now the value bet for Euro 2008.

Which nation will this year's Champions League winners hail from? A quick glance at the odds reveals predictable results with England (2.88) marginally ahead of Spain (2.86). Recent history suggests that Italy (4.1) offer excellent value, but Portugal (60) languish way down the list despite the fact that Porto won in 2003-04.

Sporting Lisbon is a long shot (420) to win while Porto, despite an impressive performance against last year's finalists Liverpool last week, is (130) to win in Moscow next year.
Still unbeaten in their domestic Superliga, Porto's odds are certainly generous but I wouldn't advise anyone to back them. I've always believed that lightning doesn't strike twice, especially without Mourinho at the helm. Porto's golden era under the 'Special One' (they also won the UEFA Cup in 2002-03) seems even more impressive when you look at the historical success of Portuguese teams in Europe... namely because there isn't much to speak of.

Things look more depressing when examining Portuguese sides in the UEFA Cup. There are four Portuguese clubs in the competition and all four lost their first-leg matches. Belenenses were outstanding in restricting Bayern Munich to a single goal in their 1-0 defeat but Braga, Pacos de Ferreira and Leira look likely to exit the competition sooner rather than later.

On reflection, it's not that strange that Portuguese teams fair so poorly in European club competitions when the best Portuguese players rarely play for them. Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson at Manchester Utd represent some of Portugal's brightest young talent while Boa Morte, Carvalho, Ferreira, Rocha, Valente, Vaz Te and Mendes all ply their trade in the Premiership.

Portuguese players are well represented around Europe too with many top players migrating to Spain's La Liga. To name a few Deco, Duda, Pepe, Nunes, Miguel, Ricardo, Simao and Maniche are all well known figures in Spain.

Like Portugal, club teams from France and Holland are not fancied to win the Champions League (although Lyon at '46' to win is a fantastic outside bet) and, just like Portugal, they also have the majority of their best footballers playing abroad. Despite these similarities there is one major difference between them - the form of their national teams.

Holland enjoyed success in the late 1980s while France remains one of the dominant teams in Europe, winning a European Championship and World Cup in recent years. Portugal doesn't have any titles to speak of but there are signs that the national team is poised to buck the trend.

Led by Figo, the 'Golden Generation' of Portuguese football failed to beat Greece on home soil in 2004 but the current squad is younger and arguably more talented. The formidable list of Portuguese talent listed above will be challenging Europe's best for years to come, but you can get them at (14) to win the Euro 2008 Championships next year.

'Big' Phil Scolari has made headlines for his street-fighting skills of late but this coach definitely knows how to handle himself in a tournament. Portugal lie third in Group A and, while they've stuttered on occasion, their remaining four games should be won without too much fuss.
At Euro 2008, Germany (6.4) are current favourites with Italy (8.2), Netherlands (13), France (11.5) and England (9.2) making up the main contenders. Regardless of the betting odds no team will want to face Portugal.

Deco and Ronaldo remain the poster boys for Portuguese football. Both are outrageously gifted players with the former desperately trying to be Portuguese and the latter playing like a natural Brazilian. Both can turn matches with a feint, trick or a wink. Behind all the swagger and style there is plenty of substance in the Portugal team and they're worth a punt to finally win on the international stage.