Portugal vs. Iceland Euro 2016 Predictions, Preview, Schedule, Streaming Info As Cristiano Ronaldo Looks For Bounceback Tournament

Created by Francisco Salazar Jun 13 2016, 06:10 AM EDT

Portugal begins its Euro 2016 campaign against Iceland on Tuesday.

Is Ronaldo Up to the Challenge?

The Portuguese are not expected to be among the top contenders for the award but they do have one piece that no one else in all of Europe has - Cristiano Ronaldo.

The superstar scored 51 goals for Real Madrid this season, the sixth straight 50-goal year for the superstar player. Ronaldo of course is Portugal's talisman and was vital to the team's success four years ago when his two goals led the Portuguese past the Netherlands in the final game of the group stage.

Ronaldo then won it all in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic before his team was shut down by Spain in the semfinals.

Of course Ronaldo was a very different player four years ago and his decline is very real. He is no longer an out-an-out winger capable of beaten opposition with his speed and dribbling skills. He can still do some of that, but it is rarer and less effective as it used to be. Ronaldo is more of a poacher these days, timing his runs better than anyone else in the world inside of the penalty area.

The other change in Ronaldo's play is his fitness, with the superstar no longer able to hold up for an entire season the way he once could. He was almost completely invisible in the Champions League final a few weeks ago, barely contributing positively for Real Madrid.

Two years ago he also struggled in the World Cup, scoring one goal but rarely able to make a difference for Portugal as the team stumbled out of the tournament.
Form remains a question heading into this tournament.

"There's always talk that all the players must arrive 100 per cent, but that is never the reality," coach Fernando Santos said according to Sky Sports. "Obviously, it would be ideal if he was at his best but I would never stop calling Cristiano even if he was at 80 per cent."

Player to Watch

Ronaldo can still carry a team on his back, as evidenced by his performance against Wolfsburg a few months ago when he scored three goals to lead Real Madrid.

History favors Portugal

Ronaldo and company have owned Iceland in their two matchups, winning by an aggregate score of 8-4. Ronaldo has scored one goal in the two games while Nani and Helder Postiga have had two goals apiece.