Kick off rapidly approaching in Frankfurt. It’s an Italian officiating team tonight led by referee Daniele Orsato, who will have VAR Massimiliano Irrati in his ear if required.

It’s little surprise to see Portugal return to a back four, their defensive line looking slightly shaky both against the Czech Republic and Georgia when Roberto Martinez utilised three centre halves. You would expect them to dominate possession throughout tonight, and use those midfield lockpickers to try and work through Slovenia’s low block.

So France await the winner of tonight’s tie, a Frenchman still yet to score from open play at the tournament but Didier Deschamps’ side just about crawling on.

Portugal are big favourites, but that friendly win earlier in the year will give Slovenia belief. They’ve looked well organised so far at Euro 2024, while Benjamin Sesko is yet to produce the magic moments he is capable of. Is tonight the night the striker makes his mark?

“I just hope the boys remain relaxed and focused. We know who we are up against. Portugal are one of the favourites to win this European Championship.

“But we want a good result and do not care too much about how we look on the pitch. I expect we will ‘suffer’ in certain moments. As it stands now, everybody is in contention for this match.”

As one man took centre stage in a circus, a properly serious team got on with the business of convincingly winning football matches around him. Is this to be the story of Portugal at Euro 2024?

Perhaps it really is the sign of a new team that, as a goal stood at Cristiano Ronaldo’s mercy, he shockingly passed for another player to score. It wasn’t the only moment where he threw back the years. There was also the moment when he beat a defender with a step-over to cross, something he hasn’t actually done in maybe a decade.

For all that, such contributions were largely at the fringes of a game, which was already won by the Selecao’s more influential modern players, though there is no doubting the main event of Roberto Martinez’s side.

Portugal coach Roberto Martínez spoke about his team’s desired reaction to the Georgia loss and what he is expecting from the round of 16 clash with Slovenia.

He said: “[The Georgia game] gives an image that doesn’t reflect what we want to do, but the reality is that we need to put it into context. We finished top of the group and had two wins, and many good things.

“Everybody can help the team, so we hope we can start well and react the way our fans deserve.

“I think everyone in the world of football knows what Slovenia did in the three games. We know them well from the game in March and it was no surprise for us to see why they had a clean sheet against England.

“They have a proper organisation of a club, they don’t play as a national team, so this is huge credit to the work of the coach. We all know the individual quality they have, the capacity to create a lot in quick attacks. They are a very complete team, so we have to be at our best.”

He said: “We have earned the right to be likeable. We can praise each other in the press conference, but the match will be different.

“Finally Slovenia is witnessing football euphoria. Fans here in Germany and back home are cheering for us. I don’t need to protect the players from it – every match fills them with energy.

“I see Portugal as one of the favourites to win the tournament. We aren’t the favourite against them, but we’re glad to be able to compete in this Euro.”

Zinedine Zidane didn’t get this before dominating Euro 2000, when he was 28. Despite that gap, Musiala is being seen in similar terms to the French great then, at least as far as an individual European Championships goes. That is as the potential player of the tournament.

Slovenia make their first alteration of the tournament: Erik Janza is suspended, so Jure Balkovec is brought in at left-back.

Slovenia XI: Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Balkovec; Stojanovic, Elsnik, Gnezda Cerin, Mlakar; Sesko, Sporar.

Rafael Leao returns from suspension to join Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal’s forward line, with plenty of creativity in behind the pair in midfield.

Portugal XI: Costa; Joao Cancelo, Dias, Pepe, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Joao Palhinha; Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo.