Portugal to Put in Effort for Euro 2016 Title Despite Low Favorability

The forward for the Portugal national football team Eder admitted Saturday in Paris that his team is not a favorite for the Union of European Football Associations European Championship (Euro 2016) title, but he said they will do everything they can to break out.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the team's opening game against the Iceland national football team, Eder said, "I think we are not the favorite, but we have all the possibilities because that is where we want. Of course, we want to win the tournament, but we know we are not the favorites and we want to go step by step."

Portugal will kick off their campaign against Iceland on Tuesday, looking to go at least one better than their efforts in 2012, when they burned out in the semifinals on penalties to eventual winners Spain.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence would give any team a chance of success, but some pundits believe it also makes Portugal all the more predictable. In short, stop Ronaldo, stop Portugal.

"Cristiano is Portugal. And all the players accept that Cristiano is Portugal. The whole of Portugal accepts that Cristiano is Portugal. And that is a problem for him because he needs players to step up and support him at the highest level. Sometimes the best players find a solution. But for him it is tougher than anyone else because he does not have that much support," said Peter Schmeichel, former Denmark and Manchester United goalkeeper.

Given that Portugal faces Iceland, Austria and Hungary in Group F, the team is expected to cruise through the group stages.

If Ronaldo can inspire his teammates, then perhaps Portugal can still have the last laugh and line up here in Paris next month in the final.

And if nothing else, Eder believes that they can count on plenty of support from the Portuguese fans in France.

"It is very special because we have a big Portuguese community in France, and that is going to be very good because they will support us and they will give us big energy so that will be very important for our matches," he said. More on: http://www.cctvplus.com/news/20160612/8023879.shtml#!language=1

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