The 25-year-old Porto player notched his first international goal at the Stade de Geneve on Saturday evening to add to Pepe's earlier strike and secure Luiz Felipe Scolari's team a 2-0 opening-day win over Turkey.

Raul Meireles claims he will always treasure the memory of his stoppage-time clincher.

"Of course it was a very happy moment - scoring a goal in the European Championship for Portugal is something I will never forget," he said.

"I must thank Joao (Moutinho) because the pass I got was from him and Cristiano (Ronaldo) was also involved in the play so I dedicate the goal to both of them and the rest of my team-mates."

Much of the pre-tournament spotlight has been on Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, with speculation rife over a possible summer transfer to Real Madrid.

But, while recognising the 23-year-old's talents, Raul Meireles does not believe one man has become bigger than the team.

"We of course know the importance of Ronaldo," he said.

"We all know the reason some players get a special mention from the Portuguese supporters but I think the Portuguese people are behind every one of us."

Transfer talk is not the only potential distraction for the Portuguese, with their Porto players facing the prospect of not playing in next season's Champions League.

European football's governing body UEFA have barred the Portuguese club, after they were found to have attempted to influence the outcome of games in the 2003/04 season by bribing referees.

Porto will appeal the decision, and have grounds for optimism with AC Milan having had a similar punishment overturned two years ago following the Italian match-fixing scandal.

However, Raul Meireles - one of five Porto players in Scolari's squad - insists there is no danger thoughts of club affairs will interfere with their Euro mission.

"The only thing I can say about that is that we are all fully focused on the match against Czech Republic," he said on the subject.

That match against Karel Bruckner's Czechs in Geneva on Wednesday is likely to go a long way to determining which of the pair finish top of Group A, with the Portuguese currently in pole position on goal difference.

Raul Meireles admits he and his colleagues have been taken aback by the level of support which has greeted them in Switzerland.

The Portuguese turned out in their droves around their team's Neuchatel base on Sunday afternoon, with thousands cramming into the Stade de la Maladiere to watch training and many more outside still vociferously enjoying Saturday night's triumph.

"Of course we knew there is a very big community of immigrants here in Switzerland but I must admit we were surprised with the masses of support we have got here so we're very happy," Raul Meireles added.

Porto goalkeeper Nuno Espirito Santo was among the training party after arriving in Switzerland to replace Benfica stopper Quim, who suffered a fractured wrist in training prior to the Turkey match.