Like their next door neighbours, Portugal have boasted some of Europe's most talented footballers down the years but have struggled to translate that into a side capable of going all the way on the international stage.

However, after years of being classed as major underachievers themselves, Spain got that monkey off their backs when they ended a 44-year wait to win their second piece of silverware by storming to glory at Euro 2008.

The Spanish have not looked back since, and they will head into the World Cup as one of the clear favourites to lift the title.

Now Portugal will be hoping to follow suit.

With a squad including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Alves, Simao Sabrosa, Ricardo Carvalho, Nani, Raul Meireles and Pepe - assuming the Real Madrid defender suffers no setbacks in his recovery from a serious knee injury - Portugal certainly have the talent to cause a stir in South Africa.

In fact, playmaker Deco believes the current group is comparable to any on the planet, telling A Bola newspaper: "With the players we have, I honestly don't feel anybody is better.

"Maybe Spain have more options, but there is no other national team superior to ours. In a single game we can beat Spain, Argentina or Brazil."

Another thing counting in Portugal's favour is they look to be a nation on the rise.

Up until fairly recently, Portugal had barely made a ripple on the international stage despite being blessed with star talent such as Eusebio, Paulo Futre and Luis Figo.

In World Cups, aside from in 1966 when they finished third, 'A Seleccao das Quinas' either did not even get through qualifying or failed to get beyond the first round in any tournament until 2006.

It is a similar story in the European Championships. They were good enough to reach the semi-finals in 1984 but that was the only edition they qualified for up until 1996.

Things have changed quite dramatically for Portugal in the last decade or so however, and if their recent trajectory is anything to go by, then that elusive maiden international trophy may not be too far away.

In the last three European Championships, Portugal have reached the quarters-finals, final and semi-finals respectively, whilst they were also fourth at the 2006 World Cup.

That form should really have put them up alongside Spain, Brazil, England and Argentina in the group of World Cup favourites, but at present Carlos Queiroz's side are considered by many to only be dangerous outsiders to lift the trophy this summer.

One of the main reasons for this was Portugal's distinctly average qualifying campaign, when they came close perilously to missing out on South Africa entirely.

Things started well enough when they defeated Malta 4-0 in their opening Group 1 fixture - albeit with three goals in the final half hour - but they then lost 3-2 at home to Denmark before recording three successive goalless draws against Sweden (home and away) and Albania (home).

That left the Portuguese with real problems, but they managed to find some form at just the right time, taking 13 from a possible 15 points in their last five matches to squeeze into the World Cup play-offs just in front of the Swedes.

Bosnia-Herzegovina were the opponents in the play-offs, and despite captain Ronaldo missing through injury, Portugal managed to win both games 1-0.

Queiroz attributed his side's turnaround in form to self-belief.

The former Real Madrid coach, who will also be able to impart plenty of local knowledge having managed South Africa earlier in his career, told FIFA.com: "We always believed that Portugal were moving in the right direction.

"It was my clear impression that the first two or three results were not a testament to the quality of the team. So the most important thing was to believe that we were moving in the right direction."

Another reason why Portugal are among the less fancied of the leading nations to be crowned world champions this summer is the path they may have to take to the final.

Their reward for fighting their way through the play-offs was to be drawn in the 'Group of Death' in South Africa, alongside Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea.

And if they get through that group, then there is a reasonable chance that in the first knockout phase they will come up against familiar foes - the Spanish.

Ronaldo said of his side's chances: "Portugal have to prepare well, we have a lot of confidence and a lot of desire for the World Cup to start. It`s going to be difficult but not impossible."