Euro 2016 preview: Is this enigmatic Portugal's year?

Often the bridesmaid, never the winner, Portugal enters Euro 2016 looking to better a 2004 finals defeat to Greece by capturing continental honours for the first time.

There's plenty of reason for optimism in the Portuguese camp after a string of admirable Euro performances. A Selecao has finished no worse than seventh in its six previous attempts, with three third-place finishes sandwiching the 2004 result on home soil.

As Cristiano Ronaldo goes, so too does Portugal, and as often the case, the Real Madrid star has lacked the support from teammates. Euro 2016 may be a different story, as emerging midfield stars William Carvalho and Renato Sanches will be joined by a promising full-back tandem of Raphael Guerreiro and Wolfsburg standout Vieirinha.

Could this finally be Portugal's chance?

Group Schedule

Projected Starting XI

Unlike previous incarnations, Fernando Santos has a bevy of options. Southampton centre-half Jose Fonte would be a good shout to start ahead of Monaco's Ricardo Carvalho, while Lyon stud Anthony Lopes should get the start in net ahead of Sporting's Rui Patricio.

Blessed with two stellar young holding midfielders in William Carvalho and developing star Sanches, Santos will likely opt for the former to pair in a central role with 83-time capped playmaker Joao Moutinho. The average age of the seven midfielders brought to France is 23.8, marking the emergence of a golden generation for Portugal.

Santos' bench also boasts better options than previous years, with Valencia's Andre Gomes, Benfica's Eliseu and a strike pairing of Eder and wonder goal-scorer Ricardo Quaresma among those who could make an impact as a sub.

Key Player: Cristiano Ronaldo

The tournament's best player, Ronaldo's numbers speak for themselves. Euro's all-time leading scorer with 23, the 125-time capped international has scored 56 goals for his country.

Ronaldo scores when it matters, often buoying average sides with his heroic performances, with none more brilliant than a World Cup 2014 playoff qualifier against Sweden. Faced with missing the tournament, Ronaldo scored all four of Portugal's goals to qualify for Brazil.

Entering the tournament hampered by patellar tendinitis and a thigh injury, Ronaldo risked his club career with Real to play, succinctly describing the perils of playing with a side littered with underwhelming players.

"If we had two or three Cristiano Ronaldos in the team I would feel more comfortable. But we don't," a perpetually modest Ronaldo said about that campaign.

Breakout Star: Raphael Guerreiro

Stellar Euro campaigns often merit blockbuster summer transfers for up-and-coming players, and that's exactly the position Lorient left-back Guerreiro is in ahead of Portugal's Group F opener against Iceland on June 14.

Guerreiro, 22, had a breakout campaign for the Bretons, making 34 appearances for the club with an unusually high three goals for a full-back paired with two assists.

With both Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund monitoring the French-born full-back, a dazzling Euro 2016 from Guerreiro could vault him into an echelon of Europe's most desired young players.

Tournament Expectations

Lofty expectations should be expected, as Portugal will win an underwhelming Group F that features Austria, Iceland, and Hungary, before a potential knockout stage clash with Italy.