Portugal has to be amongst the best teams heading into the Euros. Roberto Martinez‘s side was unbeaten during the Qualifiers, with Cristiano Ronaldo finishing as the second-highest top scorer. While the side will surely get some stiff competition from the likes of England and France, the team could stun everyone to clinch the European title.

However, Portugal has a long way to go if they want to lift the silverware. Compared to the Portuguese team that won the Euros in 2016, the team just doesn’t seem enough! Apart from Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, and Bernardo Silva, Portugal lacks certain game-changers in their squad. CR7 touched down on the team ahead of the tournament while talking to the official Euros website.

Cristiano stated, “I firmly believe that this team will bring a lot of joy to the Portuguese fans, beginning with this EURO. However, in my opinion, the best generation of players are always those who win [trophies]. I hope this national team will win because it’s an incredibly talented squad. As we all know, though, talent alone is not enough to win. There are many things that go into winning a major tournament like this one. We have all the ingredients to win it, but we’ll take it one step at a time.”

While Cristiano Ronaldo has high hopes for his teammates, that’s just not enough. While the players would love nothing but to give their best, the situation depends on how Roberto Martinez manages his men.

Does Cristiano Ronaldo’s inclusion curb Portugal’s playing XI?

If I were Roberto Martinez, I’d spend half my day planning formations! Snubbing Cristiano Ronaldo would be a hard pill to swallow for many fans. Many would eat him alive! However, Martinez could sacrifice some top players to accommodate the veteran into the playing XI. Imagine snubbing Goncalo Ramos, especially when the PSG star has gone above and beyond to earn his place in the team.

Ronaldo’s inclusion will also hurt Portugal’s defense. See, while the Portuguese striker is an enormous threat inside the box, he doesn’t track back. This could force Roberto Martinez to rely on Ruben Neves and Vitinha as box-to-box midfielders. This sacrifices the place for an attacking midfielder who could have been paired alongside Bruno Fernandes.

Portugal undoubtedly has some talented players in their ranks, and it’s up to their manager on how he makes the most out of them. Do you think Roberto Martinez should bench Cristiano Ronaldo for Goncalo Ramos? Let us know in the comments below.