There has been a heavy focus on Portugal's stuttering qualification for Euro 2012, their reliance on Ronaldo and their lack of a world-class striker. Curiously, many of the Selecção's fiercest critics have come not from the international press or opposition players, but their own media and fans. Maybe it's time to move on.

Much has been said and written about the shortcomings of the Selecção at Euro 2012, but perhaps it's time fans and media alike accepted certain things relating to Paulo Bento's side.

As Portugal prepare to play Netherlands in Kharkiv tonight with their tournament on the line - it's about time we outlawed discussion of the following issues:
 

Debating why Ronaldo can't replicate his club form on the international stage is fatuous. Portugal are not Real Madrid; Portugal's players are not all on a par with those under the stewardship of compatriot José Mourinho at the Bernebeu (Coentrão and Pepe excepted obviously).

This uneven spread of ability is one of the joys of international football - coaches have to make the most of what is available and mould a hotch-potch of talent into a functioning unit. A team. A one-man-band approach simply won't work (Maradona at Mexico '86 being the only example I can think of to counter this argument).

Hélder Postiga is no Karim Benzema, Miguel Veloso no Mesut Özil and, as there are less world-class players to support him, Ronaldo is deprived of space and as much ball as he enjoys at club level. This has two consequences a) he forces the issue more often and risks becoming frustrated and b) he is unable to cause as many problems or score as many goals.

Lionel Messi, the Portuguese captain's rival for the crown of 'Best Player in the World', endures a similar problem at international level with Argentina - who have more players at top clubs than Portugal. Despite this, many people are singularly unable to accept that players perform better when they play week in, week out with better players.
 

It's true, let's deal with it and ban moaning about it until one emerges.

Portugal haven't had an international goalscorer since Pauleta, and to a lesser extent Nuno Gomes, faded from the scene after the World Cup in 2006.

Bento was right to stick with Hélder Postiga, who played during qualification for Euro 2012, up front for the Denmark game rather than take a punt on Benfica's promising Nelson Oliveira. Postiga vindicated his coach's faith with a goal, and an improved display against the Danes and will deservedly keep the shirt for the crunch match against the Oranje. Bento deserves credit here for not rushing to make changes after the Germany defeat.
 

Since taking over from Carlos Queiroz in 2010, Paulo Bento has steadied the ship. Forget how they qualified, or any of their pre-tournament friendlies, the objective of getting to Poland and Ukraine was achieved.

Two games down in the tournament and Portugal have run Germany close and beaten Denmark - exactly what most would have predicted. The Netherlands game was always likely to decide the Selecção's fate and so it has come to pass.

I would argue that Portugal have performed in line with expectation and are still dark horses, as they always were, to sneak out of Group B and cause trouble in the knockout stages.

If those three arguments are sidelined, a host of interesting issues swim to the surface:

Should Bento have paid less respect to Germany? Should more have been said about the superb form of Ronaldo's Real Madrid team-mates Pepe and Fabio Coentrão? Can Varela be incorporated into a more attacking line-up? Do the Selecção lack the self-belief to impose themselves on a troubled Netherlands side?

For the players, the best opportunity to shut everyone up comes tonight against the Netherlands - where Ronaldo et al. can let their feet do the talking. Let's hope they send out a clear message and progress to the quarter-finals!

by Stephen Gillett