Cristiano Ronaldo says Portugal’s Group A match against Switzerland is an ideal chance for fringe players to prove their worth before the quarter-finals.

Portugal face the co-hosts having already secured top spot in the group, while the Swiss can no longer progress.

And with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari expected to make a host of changes, winger Ronaldo said: “Players who have not played yet will get a chance.

“They’ll want to show the coach they want to be in the team in future.”

Ronaldo is expected to be one of the star names rested by Scolari, but the Manchester United winger insists he and his side will not be resting on their laurels ahead of the latter stages of the competition.

Victories over Turkey and the Czech Republic confirmed them as one of the favourites to lift the trophy come the final on 29 June.

But Ronaldo said: “We have to expect that, as the tournament goes on, it’s going to be more difficult with each game.

“There have already been surprises. A lot of people thought Germany would win their group but they lost to Croatia.”

Source: BBC Sport