The Portugal national football team is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), finishing 4th at the 2006 World Cup. Portugal have qualified four times for the FIFA World Cup; 1966, 1986, 2002 and 2006.

Portugal will be joined European Cup fifth times; 1984,1996, 2000,2004 and this one 2008.Portugal has great victories in this cup ,they played semi-finals in 1984 and 2000 also played quarter final in 1996.And Portugal is the Finalist of the last European Cup.They lost to Greece with a score 2-1.

In 2003, the Portuguese Football Federation decided to hire Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Brazilian who had led the Brazil national football team to win the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Scolari led Portugal to the final of Euro 2004 (The European Championships), where they lost to Greece, and to their second World Cup semi final in 2006,ö where they lost to France. The Portuguese were unable to equal Eusebio’s 1966 third place finish as they lost to hosts Germany 3-1 on July 8 in Stuttgart, finishing in fourth place in the 2006 World Cup.

Portugal got second place after than Poland in qualification Group A.

Portugal is in Group A in the tournament with Turkey, Switzerland and Czech Republic.Switzerland will play their first match of aginst Turkey on 7 June 2008 at 20:45 in Stade de Genève, Geneva.

Portugese Team Squad

Goalkeepers: Daniel Fernandes, Ricardo, Quim

Defenders: Jorge Andrade, Bosingwa, Luis Miguel, Jorge Ribeiro, Pepe, Fernando Meira, Ricardo Costa, Nuno Valente, Paulo Ferreira, Bruno Alves, Ricardo Rocha, José Antonio, Ricardo Carvalho, Marco Caneira, Nélson, Tonel,

Midfielders: Nani, Ricardo Quaresma , Duda,Tiago, Deco, Hugo Viana, Simão, Petit, João Moutinho, Carlos Martins,Maniche, Miguel Veloso, Costinha, Manuel Fernandes, Raul Meireles

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ariza Makukula, Hélder Postiga, João Tomás, Hugo Almeida, Nuno Gomes

Luiz Felipe Scolari - Manager Of Portugal National Football Team

Luiz Felipe Scolari, ComIH (born November 9, 1948 in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil), also known as Felipão (”Big Phil”), is a Brazilian football coach, who led the Brazilian national team to victory in the 2002 World Cup. He has been the head coach of the Portuguese national team since 2003.

Portugal, as organizer of Euro 2004, did not have to qualify, and played only friendlies on the run up to the tournament. Apart from a victory against Brazil, the results were a little bit disappointing - 17 games; 9 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses (with Italy twice and Spain).

After the 2006 World Cup finished, Scolari signed a new two year contract with the Portuguese Football Federation which therefore will in principle last until the end of Euro 2008, in Austria and Switzerland.

On 26 December 2006 Scolari told the Portuguese sports newspaper Record that he would be ending his term as coach of Portugal after Euro 2008: “”It is logical that at the end of Euro 2008 I leave when my contract ends. The work of a coach is limited to five or six years. We are already in this time frame but after that, things become more difficult because they create habits and links with the players, which can result in things deteriorating”"

European Championships

1984 European Championship

This was the first time that Portugal ever entered the European Championship. In the qualifying round, the team almost didn’t qualify, but a 1-0 victory over USSR in the last game made it possible. Portugal ended in group B, alongside Spain, West Germany and Romania. In the first two games, they tied 0-0 and 1-1 against West Germany and Spain, respectively. A 1-0 win over Romania gave them the second place in the group, which was enough to go through to the elimination round.

They would play against hosts, France, in one of the most excited matches in Euro Cup history. France scored first, but Portugal tied it almost an hour later. The game ended and the two teams would play in extra time. Portugal made 2-1 in the first half and both teams could have scored more goals. In the second half France scored with six minutes to go and in the last one. Portugal had been eliminated in the semi-finals.

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1996 European Championship

In the final tournament, Portugal tied 1-1 with European Champions Denmark, won 1-0 to Turkey and Croatia by 3-0, finishing first in their group. In the quarter-finals they lost 1-0 to eventual runners-up, Czech Republic.

2000 European Championship

This tournament was the inaugural success of the so-called “Golden Generation”, captained by Luís Figo. They defeated England, Romania, and Germany to finish atop their group and then defeated Turkey in the quarter-finals.

In the semi-final meeting with World Cup holders France, Portugal scored first. However, France equalized and Portugal was eliminated in extra time by a golden goal when Zinedine Zidane converted a penalty. Austrian referee Gunter Benko controversially awarded the spot kick for a handball after Abel Xavier blocked a shot from Sylvain Wiltord. (Benko initially gave France a corner but changed his mind after consulting with a Slovak linesman Igor Sramka). Abel Xavier, Nuno Gomes and Paulo Bento were given lengthy suspensions for shoving the referee.

2004 European Championship

This tournament was held in Portugal. Portugal, as the host nation, they lost their first game against Greece, Greece beat Portugal 2-1. They got their first win against Russia 2-0 and also beat Spain 1-0. They went through and went on to play against England, it was an entertaining game to watch, it went on to penalties and Portugal went through with Ricardo scoring the wining penalty. Portugal beat Holland 2-1 in the semi-final with a lovely goal from Maniche. They were eventually beaten by rank outsiders Greece by a goal to Nil, credits to Greek striker, Angelos Charisteas. Previously, on the opening match, Greece beat Portugal 2-1. This is the first time in the history of the competition that the final featured the same two teams as the opening match.