Ronaldo set for another big challenge

Portugal v Turkey : HALF THE fun of these tournaments for devoted fans of Europe's biggest clubs tends to be the opportunity…

Portugal v Turkey: HALF THE fun of these tournaments for devoted fans of Europe's biggest clubs tends to be the opportunity they provide to glimpse the players pencilled in to appear for your side next season.

Sure enough, Chelsea supporters look set to get a glimpse tonight of just why somebody (who knows who) at Stamford Bridge decided to shell out almost €20 million for Jose Bosingwa as Portugal open up their campaign against Turkey in Geneva.

The 25-year-old is far from sure to start but he has been declared fit after shaking off the muscle strain that has recently limited his involvement in training. While Bosingwa prepared for life in London, Ronaldo seems to be warming to the idea of relocating to Madrid - surprising really when you consider that his mum says she'll come and live with him and the winger doesn't seem to have an entirely mother-friendly lifestyle.

Having been the key figure in Manchester United's hugely successful season, the 23-year-old will now look to succeed where Luis Figo failed by inspiring the major Portuguese breakthrough we had expected from the so-called "golden generation".

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If "Big Phil" Scolari's men really are to triumph then they will need Deco to be firing on all cylinders but the Barcelona midfielder may also be distracted by transfer talk after the Catalan club told him he need not hurry back when his business here is concluded.

Having beaten Turkey in every competitive game between the two sides, however, Portugal will be confident this evening. A major challenge for Turkey's coach, Fatih Terim, will be to replace the attacking influence of Yildiray Basturk in midfield and find a way of containing the Portuguese wide-men, Ronaldo and the almost equally tricky Ricardo Quaresma.

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone is Work Correspondent at The Irish Times