EURO 2016 - Portugal tipped to eliminate Poland in quarter-final clash

Portugal are the firm favourites to defeat Poland to reach the semi-finals of the ongoing European Championship in France. 

The two sides will meet in their quarter-final clash at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille with a highly entertaining encounter expected thanks to the quality of players on display from both sides.

The expected high-quality match between the two sides is also because of the free flowing football exhibited by the two sides so far in the tournament with  SmartBets odds favouring a Portuguese victory.

Portugal reached the quarter-finals after beating Croatia 1-0 with Ricardo Quaresma scoring the winner at minute 117, when just 3' were left before the penalty shoout-outs.

Poland will be a tougher opponent for Portugal as the White Eagles have one of the stingiest defenses in the tournament so far and Cristiano Ronaldo has not been clicking as of late.

To be fair to the squad, head coach Fernando Santos' team did not solely rely on Ronaldo during their triumph over Croatia as his teammates have more than displayed their own grit and determination to be able to fend off the mighty Croatian rally.

It should also be noted that Poland has their own game-changer in Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and so Portugal's defense will also be tested.

In the end, though, the odds favor world eighth-ranked Portugal over 27th-ranked Poland because of one man, and that is Ronaldo.