A resounding play-off success against Bosnia and Herzegovina secured Portugal's place at UEFA EURO 2012, where they will hope to improve on the near misses of recent tournaments.
Since reaching the UEFA EURO 2004 finals, Portugal have become fixtures in the knockout stages of major tournaments. Semi-finalists at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and quarter-finalists at UEFA EURO 2008, they were unlucky to encounter eventual winners Spain in the last 16 in South Africa two summers ago. A fifth successive UEFA European Championship final tournament was in jeopardy when Paulo Bento replaced Carlos Queiroz two games – and just one point – into UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying. He made an immediate impact, culminating in a resounding play-off triumph against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
Portugal got off to a dismal start to their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, losing five points in their first two games as Agostinho Oliveira replaced suspended coach Carlos Queiroz on the bench. Paulo Bento then took over and brought with him some much-needed stability.
The Seleccao went on to win five consecutive matches, but new internal problems caused by Ricardo Carvalho’s early retirement saw them lose the final qualifying match, against Denmark. The defeat sent them to the play-offs, where they met Bosnia and Herzegovina in a repeat of the World Cup 2010 play-offs. After a goalless draw in Zenica, Portugal upped the pace and secured a 6-2 victory to book a place in Poland and Ukraine.
PAST RECORD IN THE EUROS
1960 Quarter-finalists 1988 Did not qualify
1964 Did not qualify 1992 Did not qualify
1968 Did not qualify 1996 Quarter-finalists
1972 Did not qualify 2000 Semi-finalists
1976 Did not qualify 2004 Runners-up
1980 Did not qualify 2008 Quarter-finalists
1984 Semi-finalists 2012 Qualified through play-offs
Portugal took part of the first European Championship, in 1960, where they reached the quarter-finals of the competition after defeating East Germany. It would take them 24 years to return to the finals, and they did so convincingly, reaching the semi-finals of the competition.
However, it would not be before the mid-90’s that Portugal would establish themselves as regulars at European Championships. After reaching the quarter-finals and the semi-finals at Euro 1996 and Euro 2000, respectively, the Seleccao suffered a dramatic defeat at home in the Euro 2004 final against Greece. Four years later, they could not go beyond the quarter-finals as they suffered a 3-2 defeat against eventual runners-up Germany.
Matches played
Overall: P122 W66 D28 L28 F217 A118
Final tournament: P24 W12 D4 L8 F34 A23
Qualifying: P98 W54 D24 L20 F183 A95