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We Need A Winning Start - Ricardo

Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo knows the importance of getting off to a winning start at Euro 2008 tomorrow, but doesn't believe doing so will guarantee qualification...

Portugal play on the opening day as part of Group A. Co-hosts Switzerland first face Czech Republic before Luiz Felipe Scolari's men take on Turkey at 2045 local time (CET).

"We have to make a winning start although I don't agree with those who believe that whichever team wins this match will be practically in the quarter-finals," were the words of Ricardo, who has famously proven the scurge of England in penalty shootouts both at Euro 2004 and in the 2006 World Cup.

The tournament has only ever been co-hosted once before, with the Netherlands and Belgium having the honour then as Austria and Switzerland do now, and it was then when Portugal last met Turkey, emerging victorious in the quarterfinals.

While two-goal hero of the day Nuno Gomes is still around and first choice in the present, he is not quite the player he used to be and therefore many believe Luiz Felipe Scolari's men will be relying on getting goals from elsewhere: notably, Manchester United's 42-goal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who countryman Fernando Meira believes will be fully focused on giving his all for his country, despite an ongoing transfer saga between the Red Devils and Spanish champions Real Madrid.

"Like all of us, Ronaldo will defend Portugal up to the last minute of the last game. He knows his importance to the team," declared Meira.

Despite their victory over the Turks in 2000, tournament winners France knocked them out in extra time in the semi-finals. Nevertheless, it was a progression on their quarterfinal finish in 1996, and 2004 would see them go up another rung when, hosting the tournament last time out, they got all the way to the finals before falling to giant-killers Greece for the second time in the tournament - having already done so on the opening day. They will be hoping they can complete their steady progression with a win in 2008.

Fitness should not be a problem for the Portuguese, as they have all their top stars available and fully fit, even not all are in top form.

Barcelona playmaker Deco has been training apart from the squad and there were concerns he would not be able to play in the opening game, but team doctor Henrique Jones has assured that the diminutive midfielder will be in top shape come Saturday night.

"I can guarantee he [Deco] will be 100 percent for the first game against Turkey," he declared.

Turkey will be hoping to make a mark themselves, having failed to qualify for Euro 2004 or the 2006 World Cup, despite finishing a remarkable third in the World Cup in 2002 - their last major tournament.

It can be revealed that Hamit Altintop has declared himself fit to play in the opening game despite a metatarsal injury threatening to rule him out of the fixture. Whether coach Fatih Terim will choose to field the Bayern Munich star is another matter altogether.

Goal.com - Euro 2008 - We Need A Winning Start - Ricardo