Cristiano Ronaldo, as expected, was the star for the Portuguese team, scoring one goal and setting up another in Geneva. The Manchester United winger scored his first for the national team since October in the 63rd minute to give his team a 2-1 lead.

"It was very difficult to penetrate the defence," Ronaldo said. "If we're carrying on playing like this as a unit, we've got great chances."

Today, Germany and Croatia have a chance to join Portugal in the quarter-finals with a win from their match in Klagenfurt, Austria. Poland face co-host Austria in Vienna in the other Group B match.

Deco gave Portugal the lead in the eighth minute, scoring from close range after Ronaldo and Nuno Gomes exchanged passes in the area. Libor Sionko equalised in the 17th, but Ronaldo put his team ahead in the second half and Ricardo Quaresma tapped in from close range in injury time.

"We are among the best eight squads in Europe," said Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who was announced as the next Chelsea manager shortly after the match. "Of course, we want more than that."

With both teams coming off wins in their openers, Portugal's impressive ball movement and free-flowing style gave them the edge throughout the match.

"They were able to make perfect transition from defence into offence," Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner said.

The Czechs play Turkey on Sunday in Geneva, and the winner would join Portugal in the quarter-finals. Switzerland faces Portugal in the other group match, which has little at stake since the Portuguese have already clinched first place in the group.