EURO 2012 - Portuguese national team

Best EURO performance: runners-up 2004

Coach: Paulo Bento

Leading scorer: all-time – Pauleta (47); current – Cristiano Ronaldo (32)

Most appearances: all-time – Luís Figo (127); current – Cristiano Ronaldo (90)

Association formed: 1914

Nickname: Selecção das Quinas (Team of Shields)

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.

UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying

Group H: runners-up

Play-offs: Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-0, 2-6 Portugal (2-6 agg)

Leading scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (7)

Ever-presents: Raul Meireles, Nani (10)

Bento oversaw five wins but defeat in Denmark left them second in Group H. They beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 6-2 – the biggest winning margin in the play-offs – despite a goalless opener in Zenica. Cristiano Ronaldo took his international tally to 32 goals with two in the second leg, going level with Luís Figo in third place on Portugal's top scorer list. Only Pauleta (47) and Eusébio (41) lie ahead.

Ronaldo, at 26, became Portugal's fifth most-capped player during qualifying, rising to fourth in subsequent friendlies. "Credit goes to the team – all the players – who had the ability to adapt to a new philosophy and new ideas," Bento said after Portugal confirmed their place in Poland and Ukraine.

EURO pedigree

Portugal made their UEFA European Championship final tournament debut in 1984, and came within six minutes of the Paris showpiece. Leading hosts France 2-1 deep into extra time, Jean-François Domergue levelled before Michel Platini clipped in a 119th-minute winner.