Portugal

The Portugese squad is looking like a team more than capable of lifting the World Cup next year with great players all over the field and a great coach in Scolari.

I think the key players will be C.Ronaldo, Deco, Carvalho, Ferriera and Pauleta.

Cristiano Ronaldo, a player we all know very well from the premiership with Manchester United is undoubtably one of the best wingers in the game providing pace, tricks and great set-pieces, he will play a major part in Portugals bid for the world cup in Germany next summer.

Deco, Barcas midfield maestro, although not the most pacey of attacking players in the squad he compensates through his great ability to hit a sweet long range drive and class free kicks. His passing will also be instrumental for the squad as they look to release players like Pauleta through on goal.

Carvalho will be at center back providing the stability needed forom the back to allow more players to attack. He is a strong player with a well timed tackle and was instrumental in Portos rise to greatness and has recently helped Chelsea tot heir 1st premiership title in 50 years.

Pauleta, although a more senior mamaber of the squad still has great ability to score in important matches when called upon, he has a great eye for goal and can also head the ball with a certaqin degree of accuracey.

Ferriera is Chelsea solid right wing back who can travel up the pitch while keeping tabs on his defensive duties.

I'm not too sure. They are a great side, and do have great players, but Spain and Portugal are much the same in being massive Under Achievers in these tournaments. They do have a great flair to their style of play though.

They wont win the world cup, as you said Shane they are always underachievers in big competitions. They are exciting to watch but never seem to perform under pressure

I think they could. They are bookies favourite for the 2010 World Cup. They have so much talent there, I think they have more chance than England do. And I would love to see them lift the World Cup.

Portugal have got a great midfield. Ronaldo is absolute class and to my recolition Figo is back, maniche and Deco are also graet players. But there overall team isnt what i would call the best in the world mainly because of the attack

I think if they do well in the WC next year they will have a lot to thank Jose Mourinho for.

I know he has never actually coached the Portugese national team but he has helped develop a lot of their best players into great players.

Winning everything possible with Porto was a huge boost to Portugese football and allowed the countries top players to go on and move to top clubs, which in turn only made them better.

Perhaps he will be coaching the Portugese team at the 2010 WC, he has come out previously and said that that is the only job in football he could never turn down. If he did, my money would definitely be on Portugal.

At the moment Portugal are nowhere near good enough, they simply dont have good enough strikers, pauleta is past it and Nuno Gomes isnt top quality, in my opinion portugl are good but not good enough to win the world cup.