Portugal Euro 2022 group stage fixtures

Read more about Switzerland, Netherlands and Sweden by clicking on the team's name.

How they qualified

Russia beat Portugal 1-0 on aggregate in the play-offs, winning 1-0 in Lisbon before a goalless draw in Moscow.

However, Russia were subsequently banned from competing following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

So, Portugal were officially announced as their replacement on 2 April 2022, a year after the play-offs had taken place.

Major tournament record

European Championship

Best European Championship performance: Group Stages- 2017.

Most-recent European Championship performance:  Group Stages- 2017.

FIFA World Cup

Never previously qualified.

Portugal at Euro 2022: Can Portugal make the most of their last-minute inclusion?

Having been beaten in the play-offs 15 months ago, Portugal were not planning a trip to England for this summer's European Championships.

However, earlier this year, Russia, the side who'd beaten them over two legs, were disqualified by FIFA and UEFA, following their invasion of Ukraine.

So, as recently as 2 May, just 68 days before they kick off, it was officially confirmed that Portugal will complete the 16-team line-up.

Thus, can A Selecção make the most of this second chance, in the same way that Denmark's men were parachuted into Euro '92 and won the whole shebang?

Well, a repeat of that 30 years on seems unlikely as, in truth, there's a reason Portugal didn't qualify in the first place.

Francisco Neto led Portugal to their first-ever major tournament five years ago, beating Scotland but going out following defeats to Spain and England.

Meanwhile, Portugal have never qualified for a World Cup, and are up against it if that's to change in Australia & New Zealand next summer.

To all intents and purposes, A Selecção will need to beat Serbia away in September to leapfrog them into a play-off place at the last.

At this tournament, Portugal kick off against Switzerland, before facing reigning champions Netherlands and then Olympic silver medalists Sweden.

If they're to have any chance of causing a massive upset by reaching the knockout phase, that first match is simply must win.

Key players: Ana Borges

One of the players who will be most delighted by Portugal's last-minute inclusion in this tournament is veteran Ana Borges.

At the last European Championships, she started all three matches as a right-back but, in more recent years, has been deployed as a winger.

In total, Borges has a whopping 141 international caps to her name, scoring her 11th goal against Serbia during World Cup qualifying.

At club level, she won the FAWSL and FA Cup double with Chelsea in 2015 before signing for childhood team Sporting Clube de Portugal two years later.

With the Leões, Borges won the league title in 2018 as well as two Taça de Portugals and a pair of Supertaça de Portugals.

If Portugal are going to spring a surprise or two, they'll need their most capped player to be on top form.

Key players: Carole Costa

Not far behind in the cap count is centre-back Carole Costa.

She too started all three matches as Portugal featured at their maiden major tournament five years ago, so will be hoping for a deeper run this time.

In total, the 32 year old now has 139 caps to her name, hoping to reach the knockout phase of a tournament for the first time.

At club level, after spells with three German clubs, Costa returned to her home land in 2017, joining Sporting CP.

However, three years later, she then crossed the Lisbon divide, signing for their arch-rivals Benfica.

In total, Costa has now won seven major honours in Portugal, including back-to-back Campeonato Nacional titles with her current employers.

She started all ten matches as Benfica reached the Champions League group stages, top-level experience that will be invaluable this summer.

Key players: Carolina Mendes

Leading Portugal's attack will be the squad's top-scorer Carolina Mendes.

She has scored 23 international goals to date, including netting against both Scotland and England during Euro 2017.

This means Mendes and Ana Leite, who's not in the squad this time round, are the only Portuguese women to have scored at a major tournament.

The 34 proved recently that she's still got that goal-scoring touch, bagging a hat-trick in a World Cup qualification victory over Israel.

At club level, she has plied her trade in five different countries, winning league titles in both Portugal and Russia.

Mendes scored nine goals for Braga this season, so has earned a move back to Sporting CP for the next campaign.

Will the star striker add to her two European Championship goals this summer?

Portugal possible starting line-up for Euro 2022

Portugal's full squad for Euro 2022

Goalkeepers

Defender

Midfielders

Forwards