"Ronaldo and Messi, those are the two best players in the world," Moutinho said ahead of his side's quarter-final clash with the Czech Republic in Warsaw tonight.

"I think that Cristiano is a very complete player in all aspects, Messi is too but these two players, they differ from another. I would prefer Ronaldo."

Moutinho was answering just one of many Ronaldo-related questions that dominated both Czech and Portuguese news conferences at the National Stadium.

Czech captain Tomas Rosicky was at least afforded the courtesy of commenting on his recovery from injury before fielding questions on the world's most expensive player.

How could the Czechs stop the flying winger? What plans did they have for him?

Moutinho and coach Paulo Bento were bombarded with Ronaldo talk right from the start when it was Portugal's turn to face the media.

The Porto midfielder said it was "natural to talk about him all the time".

"Ronaldo is a leader. A complete player. Good in the air, good with his feet," he said.

Bento, told that Rosicky had said Ronaldo did not like to defend, was asked if he let his forward do what he liked on the pitch.

"I don't just let him play. Of course there are instructions for him," said the coach.

"I have heard the saying 'talent can be very stressful'. He has a lot of talent, but I will give him the best information to cope with the task."

Czech Republic coach Michal Bilek firmly believes his side can beat Portugal provided they repeat their recent performances.

The Czechs go into the encounter as underdogs but boosted by the news that Arsenal's Rosicky will feature having recovered from an Achilles tendon injury.

The midfielder suffered the injury in his team's 2-1 triumph over Greece and missed the final group game against Poland last Saturday.

The Czechs reached the last eight as Group A winners, rebounding from an opening 4-1 defeat to Russia to beat Greece and co-hosts Poland.

"Portugal are favourites, they have strong players," Bilek said.

"But if we repeat the performances against Greece and Poland then we have a good chance of going through."

Bilek believes his team will have to play a defensive game and make the most of their chances.

"I think the key to our recent victories has been on defence," he said. "In our first game we left too many spaces and Russia punished us (4-1).

"We learned a lot from that game and I'm sure we will not make the same mistakes."

Rosicky, meanwhile, expects his side to be put to the test by a very good Portuguese team.

"Portugal is going to be a more difficult rival than the ones we have faced so far in the competition," he said.

"But this is our chance and we will fight until the end."