Euro 2012 draw: Pot 3

Portugal

Portugal’s hopes of success in this tournament rely so heavily on the individual talents of Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured), as has been the case since the end of the Navigators’ last golden generation.

But there is great quality surrounding the world’s most expensive player: Manchester United’s acrobatic winger Nani, Chelsea’s Raul Meireles and his midfield cohort Danny, as well as Real Madrid defenders Fabio Coentrao and Pepe. Surely among the potential winners.

Read more: Pot 1, Pot 2, Pot 4

Croatia

Croatia failed to reach last year’s World Cup finals and endured a patchy Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. And this is no golden generation like the class of ’96, but Croatia are not without a nevertheless formidable arsenal of attacking players, Tottenham’s Luka Modric the standout example.

Modric will be hoping to form an understanding with Milan Badelj, a young Dinamo Zagreb playmaker who appears to be destined for one of Europe’s big clubs. And while no Davor Suker, neither former Gunner Eduardo and Bayern’s Ivica Olic are goal-shy.

Greece

With the vast majority of their team playing in the country’s top-flight and few in the bigger, more competitive European leagues, Greece have are bereft of any star players. But that was the case in 2004, when they shocked the footballing world by winning the tournament against massive odds, at home.

This time around, big things are expected of young Schalke defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos and, if fit, Sotiris Ninis, Panathaniakos’ bombing winger, who could end to his country’s quest for a world-class player in the years to come. Georgios Samaras is also still around.

Sweden

Sweden could surprise a lot of people in 2012. Yes, the weary faces of Olof Mellberg, Anders Svensson et al are still there. But there is a crop of just-ripening talent, as well as a host of dynamic youngsters to supplement that experience.

Of course, Zlatan “better than Messi” Ibrahimovic is expected to mesmerise and frustrate and be over-relied upon. He will be ably supplied by Lyon’s 29-year-old midefielder, Kim Kallstrom. PSV’s Ola Toivonen, linked with just about every big European club, and AZ’s Rasmus Elm, are formidable and exciting.