Portugal vs. Holland Euro 2012: Ronaldo Proves Selecao Can't Be Counted out

Cristiano Ronaldo gives Portugal more than enough goal-scoring power to be a real threat to take the 2012 European Championship. 

For Portugal's first two games, it was hard to tell that Ronaldo was even participating. He was auspiciously quiet. Given this, the only surprise about Portugal's 1-0-1 record was that they managed to win one.

They took that record into their match against Netherlands and desperately needed a win, or their tournament would be over.

In the face of this pressure, Ronaldo showed up in a huge way. Portugal quickly fell behind 1-0 in this match, and Ronaldo nailed the equalizer in the 28th minute. He then added the go-ahead score in the 74th minute, and narrowly missed out on a hat trick with a shot that hit the post.

He was a one-man wrecking crew, which is exactly what you'd expect from the best player in the tournament, and all of a sudden, Portugal has now gone from an afterthought clawing for their tournament lives to a team on a roll featuring a deadly goal scorer. 

Portugal still has their work cut out for them, and they aren't likely to be favored in any match they play from here on out, but—to use a boxing term—they have a puncher's chance. 

Any team facing Portugal has to make a choice. They can either try to keep Ronaldo from scoring, which will open things up for his teammates, or they can try and play him straight up. Either option leaves them vulnerable to the possibility of a barrage of goals and an eventual upset.