Is Nelson Oliveira the striker Portugal have been crying out for?

If Portugal had a centre-forward as talented as their wingers, then perhaps they would be shorter than their (2.47/5)
to get out of Euro 2012 Group B and (5.79/2) to win it.

It has long been Portugal's problem: even in the days of Pedro Pauleta, the fans wished there was someone who could stand alongside the talent of Luis
Figo and Rui Costa and finish off the chances they created.

Nuno Gomes [Portugal games 79, goals 29] told betting.betfair.com that "all the strikers in recent years have great scoring records for the national
team", but the lack of regular goals is still a cause of concern for the team. Helder Postiga has a decent international record - 19 goals in 47
games - and is set to start in between Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal's opener against Germany on June 9. Portugal are (4.84/1) to win that game, with Germany (1.8910/11).

Hugo Almeida is next in line - 15 goals in 40 games - but the third striker picked in Paulo Bento's squad is the one causing the most excitement. If hype
was a barometer of a young player's talent, Benfica striker Nelson Oliveira would be off the scale. The 20-year-old, who won his first Portugal cap in the 0-0 draw with Poland back in February, is the country's great hope for the future.

A regular top scorer in youth leagues, Oliveira made his Portuguese league debut for Rio Ave aged 18, and last season he scored five goals in 30 games
on loan at Paços de Ferreira. This season, his first goal for Benfica could not have been more dramatic: a late strike in their Champions League Round of 16 knock-out win over Zenit St Petersburg.

He has been compared to Zlatan Ibrahmovic in Portugal, but that's more to do with how he looks than anything else. He is languid and plays with his head
up, but in fact he's more like Sergio Aguero; mobile, strong and skilful, and happy to make runs towards the flanks, where he began his career as a winger.

His career highlight came at last year's Under-20 World Cup, where his four goals helped Portugal reach the final (they lost to Brazil after extra-time)and he came second behind Henrique in the Best Player award.

"I would describe myself as a fast player, with a decent shot and good movement," he said. "But to be a more complete player, I need to improve my positioning inside the box and how I get there, which needs a bit of work."

Perhaps the greatest marker for his future is that his agent is Jorge Mendes, who also represents Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho. Benfica
have already inserted a €30m buy-out clause in his contract, but are keen to extend his deal beyond 2014 this summer. He's unlikely to start for Portugal at Euro 2012 but Bento is expected to throw him on for the final 20 minutes of each game.

Given the trouble he caused European champions Chelsea when he came on as a substitute in their Champions League quarter-final last month, Oliveira will
be a player to watch even if he doesn't start, once the games get underway.