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Portugal enter the new 2009-2010 with it all to do if they are to book their place at the World Cup in South Africa next year.

Semi-finalists in Germany three years ago under Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Brazilian left the national team last summer reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 after five years in charge.

The 2002 World Cup winner was replaced in the hot seat by former Real Madrid manager and Manchester United number two Carlos Queiroz.

However, the transition between coaches has been far from seamless and under Queiroz Portugal have now dropped to 17th in the FIFA World Rankings, their lowest position since June 2004 when they were ranked 22nd on the back of playing no competitive football prior to hosting Euro 2004.

The Portuguese have so far struggled to third place in their qualifying group, winning only two of their six matches so far. Therefore, Queiroz’s side will approach the new season’s fixtures with some trepidation with little or no margin for error left if they are to survive the tightest qualifying group in Europe.

First up, however, for Portugal is a friendly fixture in August against Liechtenstein. Queiroz’s troops will seek a moral boosting win over the minnows ranked 156th in the world as they seek a winning start to the season.

Next up in September is a trip to Denmark in an absolute "make-or-break" qualification match. Portugal squandered a 2-1 lead with only minutes to go to lose 3-2 when they faced the Danes in Lisbon last year, and have been playing catch-up in the group ever since.

Whereas Portugal have continued to stumble, Denmark have yet to break stride in an impressive campaign including wrapping up a vital three points away to Sweden at the end of last season and have now leapfrogged Portugal in the FIFA World Rankings to 15th.

Portugal must win in Copenhagen to stand any realistic chance of topping the group and gaining automatic qualification for South Africa. However, even such a victory would still leave them chasing a four-point deficit with only three games remaining.

A draw would all but end their automatic hopes (keeping the gap at seven points with only nine left to play for) whereas a home win would leave Portugal only able to chase down Hungary for second-place and a probable play-off place.

Four days after Copenhagen and Cristiano Ronaldo and co will again be on the road as they face Hungary in Budapest at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium in what is another must-win match.

Portugal currently trail the Hungarians by four points and will without doubt have to win in Budapest if they are to at least finish second in the group. Any other result and Queiroz will be hoping for an extremely unlikely sequence of results to fall his way in the last two games for qualification to be secured.

The group will be completed by the final two rounds of games in October. Perhaps, crucially Portugal will be at home for both of these games.

First they host Hungary on Saturday 10 October and will most likely need to beat their opponents for the second time within a month if they are to keep their South African dream on track.

On the same night Denmark will be hosting Sweden in what will most likely prove the decisive night in the group.

Four days later Portugal will finish the group with a home game against Malta in Guimarães. One way or another Portugal will require the three points either in a race for first or second place and will be expected to win emphatically against the whipping boys of the section.

Portugal have yet to schedule any games for November and will realistically be hoping that they will have a two-legged Play-Off for a World Cup place to occupy them during this month.

Even if Portugal were to win all four of their games a place at the top of the group looks beyond them at this point in time and only an almighty collapse from Denmark could present Portugal with such an opportunity.

Whilst anything is still possible this does indeed look a long shot given the form already displayed by all teams involved so far.

The key factor for Portugal will be the form of Cristiano Ronaldo, the current FIFA World Player of the Year. The forward hit seven goals in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup and then bagged eight during Euro 2008 qualifying but has yet to find the net in six qualifiers so far this time.

Queiroz will need his captain to produce goals and lead his team when they need it most in the forthcoming qualifiers.

Portugal were favourites to qualify at the very start of the group but their historical record in World Cup Qualification is surprisingly poor suggesting that their absence from South Africa next year should perhaps not be the greatest shock.

They have qualified for the past two World Cups but overall have a very poor record, having only ever participated in four World Cup finals—1966, 1986, 2002, and 2006. However, in their first and last appearance they did finish third and fourth respectively.

Portugal’s Fixtures for 2009-2010
(as announced so far)

Wed 12 Aug Liechtenstein vs. Portugal Friendly

Sat 5 Sept Denmark vs. Portugal World Cup Qualifier

Wed 9 Sept Hungary vs. Portugal World Cup Qualifier

Sat 10 Oct Portugal vs. Hungary World Cup Qualifier

Wed 14 Oct Portugal vs. Malta World Cup Qualifier{#}