Why you should watch every team at the 2018 World Cup

Portugal

Up until 2002, the first year they qualified for the World Cup since 1986 and the year preceding an 18-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival on the scene, Portugal had a difficult time breaking themselves out of a prolonged international talent drought. But since their 2003 win over Kazakhstan (and Ronaldo’s first senior cap), they have been one of the world’s best teams.

That statement may only be due to the presence of Ronaldo, the best pure scorer of all time and the world’s most popular athlete. Portugal will take it, despite the constant international disappointments that succeeded their loss in the final of the 2004 Euros and their semifinal fall in the 2006 World Cup.

Their improbable win in the 2016 Euros, fueled almost entirely by Ronaldo despite his early injury in the final, gave the star his world title, and it proved his team’s ability to win over the world’s best teams. They had surrendered to the United States in the 2014 competition’s Group of Death and fallen to Spain in 2010’s round of 16 — a tournament in which Ronaldo scored just one goal, which came as part of a 7-0 demolition of North Korea.

Portugal have a quality team as they look to Russia as one of their final major opportunities with Ronaldo close to his prime. Veteran Joao Moutinho of Monaco will lead the midfield along with Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva. Forwards Nani and Eder were left out of the squad in favor of younger options.

Manager Fernando Santos will look to Ronaldo as Portugal look to replicate their 2016 success.