How they qualified

Defeat in Moscow and draws with Israel, twice, and Northern Ireland left them with a tough play-off tie against Sweden, which almost went topsy-turvy in Stockholm until Cristiano Ronaldo in dazzling style scored twice in two minutes to complete his hat-trick and drag them through, clinging to his coat-tails.

World Cup high

Third in 1966, with Eusebio, the darling of Goodison Park, winning the golden boot with nine goals, his eighth coming in the semi-final defeat by England and, specifically, Bobby Charlton.

World Cup low

Beat England in their first group game in Mexico in 1986 only then to lose to both Poland and Morocco and the ‘golden generation’ were dumped out in 2002 by co-hosts South Korea and their Beatlemania-revival, screeching fans.

Familiar faces

Nani (Manchester United) and his former-team-mate-cum-global-brand, CR7.

The manager

Paulo Bento, the former Sporting Lisbon midfield shield and manager who earned the nickname “Daddy Cups” in his latter job there, took over in 2010 and coached them to the semi-finals of Euro 2012 where they were knocked out by Spain only on penalties.

How in danger is he?

Underperformance would do for him but he is also thought to be keen to have another crack at club management. 4/10

Most likely to light up Brazil

In a Portuguese-speaking country, the world’s greatest Portuguese-speaking player, arguably without that linguistic qualifier, too, World Cup winker extraordinaire, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Most likely to be sent home in disgrace

Real Madrid centre-half Pepe was banned for 10 games in 2009 for kicking a Getafe player who had fallen to the floor twice and slapping another. Three years later he walked into a referee’s dressing room after a 1-1 draw with Villarreal and called him a “swindling motherf-----“.

Title odds

25-1

The stereotype is …

One-man band, Ronaldo single-handedly driving his extravagantly-tattooed team-mates through a combination of individual brilliance, cajoling by example and grandiose petulance.

The reality is ...

Surprisingly vulnerable at the back given their pedigree and Bento’s tastes as a club coach and player but capable of swift, fluid counter-attacking waves all in service of Ronaldo, who is more conductor and principal soloist than entire orchestra.

What they’re known for?

Port 27 per cent

Narcissistic managers 41 per cent

Shellfish detritus in soup 13 per cent

Hello! features at home with Sir Cliff Richard 19 per cent

How Brazilian are they?

Long before George Canning brought the new world into existence to redress the balance of the old, Portugal were Brazil. In football terms, they are the 1974 Brazil with Pele stuck on top.

How Google translates the national anthem

Kiss the soil thy jocund, the ocean roaring of love, and your arm, the winner, gave new worlds to the world.

Duration

Long enough at 1min 22sec to let Brazil fans put their hands on hips and sigh “so you discovered us did you?”

How to dress like their fans

Red, green or gold vests, Glastonbury-style jester’s hats and acres of cotton wool to drown out the sound of the weapon with the bass drum.

Commentator's go-to fact

After Manoel II, Portugal's last king, was deposed in 1910, he lived in exile in Twickenham and although he died at the age of 42 he was godfather to more than 300 children.