That has forced some teams, most recently France in its 2-0 quarterfinal loss to Spain, to try to adjust their tactics.
But the Portuguese are having none of it, saying the key to Wednesday's semifinal against Spain is simple: Be themselves.
"We have to keep united as we've been so far, and we have to be ourselves and not change the way we play just because we're going to face the reigning world and European champions," defender Joao Pereira said.
"When we have to take control of the game we will, and when we have to press we're going to press. We're going to play our game and try to attack, with all the respect we have for Spain."
That attack will be led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who is back on form after failing to score in Portugal's first two matches at the tournament. The Real Madrid star has found his scoring touch since, netting twice against the Netherlands and one more against the Czech Republic to put Portugal into the semifinals.
In Poland and Ukraine, Ronaldo has finally put in the performances — and goals — for his national side that have made him one of the world's top club players for years.
That comes after the Portugal captain managed just one goal in each of the last three major tournaments he's played in — the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and the 2008 European Championship.
His performances at Euro 2012 have gone a long way toward shoring up his reputation with the national team, and he could probably silence the critics for good if he leads Portugal to victory over Spain.
It would be extra sweet for Ronaldo, one of the game's top competitors, to eliminate Spain, where five of his Real Madrid teammates play, including Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso.
