Portugal are back to defend their European Championship title from 2016. Question marks following their early exit at the 2018 World Cup were silenced with a Nations League victory in 2019. Can the Portuguese side, which sits as third favorites in Group F, advance and make a deep Euro 2020 run?
- Odds to Win Euros: +800
- Odds to Win Group F: +350
- Head Coach: Fernando Santos
- Team Name: Team of the Five
Portugal schedule & opponents
Portugal face tough tests in Group F in France, Germany, and Hungary. They play their first and third games in Budapest with a trip to Munich for their middle match.
| Date | Time | Team Odds | Draw | Team Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 15 | Noon ET | Hungary +600 | +300 | Portugal -200 |
| June 19 | Noon ET | Portugal +230 | +220 | Germany +125 |
| June 23 | 3 pm ET | Portugal +230 | +220 | France +125 |
Pre-tournament match odds
Odds for Portugal to win
Portugal opened at +1,300 on the Euro 2020 odds board and have shortened all the way to +800.
Here’s how Portugal’s odds to win the tournament have looked over the last eight months, as compared to the other tournament favorites.
Portugal team preview
In major international tournaments, betting markets tend to be very efficient. While teams at much longer odds may shuffle around, it is rare to see a team priced so close to the top of the odds board move as much as Portugal has. The dip in price from 16/1 to 8/1 is significant and the support for Portugal goes a long way to illustrate how strong this squad is.
At the first three levels, Portugal features three of the Premier League’s best players at their position. Rui Patrício has been the mainstay in goal for the Portuguese side for more than a decade. Rúben Dias has been dubbed the signing of the season leading the Manchester City defense to the top spot in the table. Bruno Fernandes is a key midfield creative link that has thrived at Man United.
All of this, of course, builds up to support Cristiano Ronaldo. He has scored 25 goals in 30 matches for Juventus this season, and his 103 goals in 173 caps for Portugal at the international level (including 21 goals in 44 European Championship matches) are all country records that will never be broken.
The fact that in the lead-up to this tournament manager Fernando Santos took some criticism for including Ronaldo on the squad, with reporters (genuinely) citing that the team would be better off without the superstar at age 36 being the focal point, shows the riches of talent that this side has.
Alongside Ronaldo is likely to be 21-year-old João Félix. While he has struggled in league play, his skill set fits in perfectly with CR7. If needed, André Silva has scored 25 goals in 29 matches playing for Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this season and can come off the bench in support.
Bernardo Silva is another key piece and a third Man City representative in the Portuguese starting lineup. The connection between him and João Cancelo at fullback could prove to be dynamic considering the importance of the high press up the left and right sides that Santos puts into his tactical plans. The big advantage beyond finishing power for Portugal is the speed that they have out wide. If not pressed back, few teams in the tournament can defend it well for 90 minutes.
Portuguese player to watch
Name: Cristiano Ronaldo
Age: 36
Position: Forward
There can't be a Portugal preview without mentioning Ronaldo as the stand-out player. While the form and prospects of Silva may stand out as the upstart, the all-time leader in caps and goals for the national team gets the spotlight. Even at 36 years of age, Ronaldo is listed at odds of +800 to be the top goalscorer behind Kylian Mbappe, Romelu Lukaku, and Harry Kane. The upside in that wager is directly correlated to the progression of Portugal. Considering the amount of money they have taken in such a huge market and the talent across the board, those prospects appear to be quite high.
Player prop to bet: Ronaldo top goalscorer (+800)
Portugal prediction
Best bet: Portugal to make semifinals (+200)
Best bet: Portugal to make the final (+400)
Bettors want to be on the same side as Fernando Santos. During his managerial tenure with Portugal, he has participated in three major tournaments, winning two and making it to the Round of 16 in the other. In two international tournaments with Greece, he made it to the quarterfinals and the Round of 16. In 131 total international matches managed, he has lost just 18 times and has a win rate of 58%.
Combine the managerial success with the talent across the board for this team and it is not surprising to see bettors flocking to bet Portugal to defend their title. A second-place group finish behind France puts Portugal at the bottom of the bracket and avoiding Belgium. Bet Portugal at odds of +200 to make the semifinals and +400 to make the final.
Go back to our Euro 2020 Teams page for previews of all 24 countries
