Czech vs Portugal: Tough Competition in Group B Has Prepped Portugal for Victory

Portugal is ready for its quarterfinals matchup against the Czech Republic, and not just because it's considered to be one of the most formidable teams remaining at Euro 2012.

After surviving the Group of Death, the quarterfinals round is going to be a breeze for Portugal.

The two teams will square off on Thursday at 2:45 p.m. ET, after each of them emerged from the group round with six points. The Czechs won Group A, and although Portugal finished second in Group B, it had the same 2-1 record as the Czechs and was grouped with Germany—the only team to win each of its first three matches.

Finding a way to come out of that group alive presented a bigger test than any other team still in contention has had to face. 

Mentally, this is the perfect opponent for Portugal. It's not easy enough to be a trap game—how could it be, after the Czechs won their group?—but additionally, Portugal hasn't been playing so overwhelmingly well of late that it stands any chance of getting complacent. This team came into Euro 2012 on the heels of four straight winless games, and had to fight to get out of Group B. And it wasn't easy.

Portugal had to rebound from an opening-game loss to Germany and contend with a surprising Denmark team in order to reach this stage, and now that it is finally here, this team isn't quite ready to go home.

The Czechs, though they won their group, haven't exactly been dominating, either. They made history in the wrong way last week when they became the first-ever Euro contender to win their group with a negative goal differential.

On top of that, Portugal is at full strength for the matchup, while the Czech Republic could be without star midfielder Tomas Rosicky, who injured his Achilles tendon against Greece.

In order to beat Portugal, the Czechs are going to have to submit the defensive effort of their lives, and they're probably going to have to find some way to score more than once against the team that will present their biggest challenge yet.

Portugal faced scoring woes of its own heading into Euro: In three international friendlies prior to the tournament, it scored just one goal. But lately, this offense has been heating up, scoring five goals in its last two games after being shut out by Germany.

The last time these two teams met at Euro 2008, Portugal came away with a 3-1 win, and it will look to repeat that feat on Thursday. The deck is stacked in Portugal's favor; now all it has to do is stay focused and capitalize.