Why Portugal Are Seeking to Avoid Becoming Europe's Biggest Chokers vs. Wales

Contrary to popular belief, Portugal are playing Wales in Lyon on Wednesday night, and not just Cristiano Ronaldo playing Gareth Bale.

Two of the most recognisable faces in world football might be the ones staring back at you from every pre-match tweet, video or article ahead of the most unforeseen of Euro 2016 semi-finals, but what both teams have come to represent will be on show, too.

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For Wales, simply being here is ridiculous.

A tournament that started off with them just happy to qualify has now opened up to the point that they are one of only four teams left, something that is quite unlike anything they’ve experienced as a nation before.

One of the most refreshing things about their success is—similar to Leicester City’s in the Premier League season just gone—that they have been willing to take on teams at their own game.

They delivered two of the best attacking performances of the tournament in putting Russia and Belgium to the sword, and they have shown they are fully prepared to punch above their weight, doing so with smiles on their faces and drawing out scowls from others.

Those kind of opponents will always make the apparent favourites somewhat weak at the knees, a feeling of dread expanding in the stomach as they ponder just what a defeat to the unheralded underdogs would feel like. Welcome to Ronaldo and Portugal’s world right now.

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And to make matters worse, they’ve been here before.

There’s no doubt that Wales winning this tournament would be up there with—surely on top of—Greece’s victory in Euro 2004 as the most remarkable event in European Championship history, and even reaching the final would run it close.

Twelve years ago, it was Portugal who were the vanquished side in their own capital city, with their loss to the Greeks drawing tears from Ronaldo, his team-mates and the country on an evening when it had almost been expected that they would stroll to victory.

Throw in semi-final defeats to France at Euro 2000 and Spain at Euro 2012—both eventual tournament winners like Greece, as if Welsh pulses weren’t racing enough—and you’ve got a huge psychological barrier for the Portuguese to overcome on Wednesday.

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Fail here, and that would be four times this century alone that they had come close to continental glory (they reached the quarter-finals in 2008), only to fall short at either the last or penultimate hurdle.

The same would be true if they lost the final, of course, but given that either the world champions or the hosts lie in wait there, there would be something about losing to Wales—about Ronaldo losing to Bale—that would emphasise the "chokers" tag more. Is that worse? Will that haunt them? Will it affect their game plan?

These are the fears that coach Fernando Santos will have to overcome in Lyon, where Wales head determined to shake off the losses of the suspended Ben Davies and Aaron Ramsey, key players both, who have formed such a huge part of their tournament to date.

But that just adds another element of determination and spirit to a plucky side that Portugal are not going to find it easy to deal with, and one in which they could end up experiencing deja vu following their group-stage efforts against organised, proficient teams like Iceland, Austria and Hungary. But of course, none of those has a Bale.

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The night could come down to just which one of the Real Madrid superstars has the most impact, but crucially Bale and Wales come into the game unencumbered with what has gone on before.

These are wounds that Ronaldo and Portugal seemingly carry around with them and that could start opening up the longer that the Welsh can frustrate them on what will be a tense night in Lyon, where Portugal are facing both Wales and their fears.

Overcome both and anything will be possible.

Crumble, and it’ll be an all-too-familiar tale.