Euro 2016

Cristiano Ronaldo: 'Group not easy for Portugal'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 09 June 2016

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo disputes claims that his country have been given an easy route into the last-16 stage of Euro 2016.

Cristiano Ronaldo has played down suggestions that Portugal should breeze into the last-16 stage of Euro 2016.

The Iberian nation have been drawn alongside Iceland, Austria and Hungary in Group F and will be expected to advance as winners of that particular section.

Ronaldo, however, has insisted that his team will not have an easy ride in the group stage due to the strength of Austria and Hungary, in addition to potential surprise package Iceland.

"Opinions will always be there. You have to play the game [and] fight it out on the ground for 90 minutes to earn a win. Austria and Hungary are strong teams. They can surprise many," Ronaldo told reporters.

"Iceland came to the Euros from the same group from where the Netherlands were eliminated. They were second behind the leaders Czech Republic in the qualifiers. The Netherlands were the fourth in the same group. Need we say more about Iceland's credentials?"

Portugal will open their Group F campaign against Iceland on June 14.