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Cristiano Ronaldo scored his third goal of Euro 2012 to give Portugal a merited 1-0 win over a sterile Czech Republic side who paid the price for parking the bus in their quarter-final at Warsaw's Stadion Narodowy.

The Real Madrid forward followed on from scoring twice in a 2-1 win over the Netherlands in the group stages by arriving late in the box to head into the ground and over goalkeeper Petr Cech from Joao Moutinho's cross on 79 minutes. He has now netted 10 goals from qualifying and these finals in dragging his country to the last four.

The result was never really in doubt against a Czech side who somehow won Group A, but failed to manage a shot on goal all night and seemed paralysed without injured Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky in their ranks.

Portugal - unchanged from their three matches in finishing second behind Germany in Group B - will face world and European champions Spain or France for a place in the final. They must have a real chance to claim the trophy with Ronaldo hungry, elusive and suddenly replicating the level of form that he brings to Spanish La Liga winners Real.

Czech manager Michal Bílek vowed to be defensive to avoid a repeat of the 4-1 mauling they received from Russia in the opening game of the tournament, but nobody could have imagined they would be so negative.

Portugal could easily have won by three or four goals, but only a combination of sloppy finishing and agile goalkeeping by Cech kept the Czechs in the match until late in the contest.

Portugal came up with 20 efforts at goal with Ronaldo twice hitting the post before he scored. He turned and buried a shot against Cech's left-hand upright late in the first period while another free-kick from 30 yards was sent spitting beyond Cech only to brush the outside of a post.

The longer this mismatch staggered on, more chances fell around the Czech Republic goal. Bilek's men were either unable or unwilling to lay a glove on their opponents, who were well served by Nani and the busy Moutinho as they camped out in the opposition half in the second period.

Ronaldo saw an overhead kick fly wide on 30 minutes before substitute Hugo Almeida headed over a couple of minutes after half-time to illustrate how the second half was going to work out for the Czechs.

Cech made fine stops from Nani and Moutinho with less than 30 minutes left with Nani seeing a shot deflect over the bar. Almeida also had the ball in the net, but was deemed to be offside while he headed over again from close range to suggest his arrival to replace the injured Helder Postiga was not a roaring success. Postiga may be finished for the finals having been forced off with a hamstring strain.

For the record, Joao Pereira had a shot at goal nudged wide by Cech with eight minutes left, but Portugal were convincing winners with their one goal.

Ronaldo has now scored six goals at Euro finals, the joint-most of any Portuguese player, along with Nuno Gomes. Watched by former Portuguese greats Eusebio and Luis Figo, Ronaldo can take his place as one of the game's most feted players if he can inspire Portugal to carry off the tournament.

He seems to be on the right path.

Silvestre Varela kept Portugal's Euro 2012 hopes alive with a late goal in a 3-2 win over Group B rivals Denmark in Lviv.

Sunderland forward Nicklas Bendtner scored twice (41,80) as Morten Olsen's side recovered from falling 2-0 behind to Pepe's headed opener on 24 minutes and a Helder Postiga finish from inside the Danish area on 36 minutes.

Despite Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo missing a couple of obvious chances, substitute Varela sealed the three points for Portugal - their first win of the year after a series of indifferent results in friendies - when he walloped a blistering shot into the corner of the net at the second attempt from Fabio Coentrao's delightful pass.

Portugal were worth their win on the night. They join Denmark and Germany on three points with Germany due to face the Netherlands later on Wednesday.

Denmark upset the Dutch 1-0 on Saturday to leave the group delicately poised before the final round of games.

Portugal are the only country to have taken part in at least one group phase at the European Championships without ever going home before the quarter-finals.

They were at risk of falling out of the tournament if they lost this match and Germany drew with the Dutch, but eased their nerves by moving ahead on 24 minutes when Real Madrid defender Pepe rose to power home a header from Joao Moutinho's corner.

They doubled their lead 12 minutes later as Postiga swept the ball high into the Danish goal beyond keeper Stephan Andersen from Nani's delicious pass.

With coach Morten Olsen frantically scribbling down notes, Denmark looked to be heading for a drubbing until they reduced the deficit almost out of nothing four minutes before half-time.

Substitute Jacob Poulsen picked out Michael Krohn-Dehli - scorer of the winner against the Netherlands - deep in the opposition area and he headed back across goal for Bendtner to nod into the unguarded net.

It was his 19th goal in his 50th match for Denmark and a fifth goal in five games against Portugal for the former Arsenal man.

Ronaldo should have put his country 3-1 clear on 51 minutes when he raced in on goal only to fluff his lines as his shot lacked the necessary pace to beat Andersen.

He then looked to have paid the ultimate price when he bounded onto Nani's ball only to slip the shot wide of goal on 78 minutes - Denmark went level three minutes later.

Lars Jacobsen threw over an inviting cross for Bendtner to net his sixth goal in five games against Portugal as his header hit the back of the net via Rui Patricio's glove and post.

It looked like Portugal would need results elsewhere to stay alive in the tournament, but their destiny is back in their own hands courtesy of Varela's winning goal.

Portugal know a win over the Netherlands on Sunday will be enough to secure their place in the last eight. Ronaldo will hope for better times.

Alongside Russia's Aleksandr Kerzhakov (11 shots) and Robin van Persie (eight shots), Ronaldo (10 shots) is in the top three forwards with most efforts at goal. All three have yet to score at the finals.

Mario Gomez gave Germany a narrow 1-0 win over Portugal in Group B after a wretched match at the Arena Lviv in Ukraine.

The match seemed destined to finish goalless with both sides reluctant to commit bodies forward, but Bayern Munich's Gomez settled the match in Germany's favour when he rose to head Sami Khedira's deflected cross beyond Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio on 72 minutes.

Portugal enjoyed their best moments of the match when they were forced to throw caution to the wind in the death throes of the match, but their defensive approach did not contribute to an appetising spectacle as men such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani and Helder Postiga were forced to live off scraps for most of the evening.

Germany will reach the last eight if they beat the Netherlands on Wednesday night. It should be a fascinating occasion with the Dutch needing to avoid defeat having lost 1-0 to Denmark in Kharkiv earlier in the day.

Portugal showed enough against Germany in the final 18 minutes to suggest they can beat Denmark on Wednesday but they would be better served to adopt a more positive outlook against Morten Olsen's side.

The first period was a non-event in terms of being an event as Lukas Podolski drove a shot into the arms of Patricio on eight minutes with Thomas Mueller screwing a effort wide seven minutes before half-time.

The best chance of the half fell to Portugal a minute before half-time as Pepe saw a header come back off the underside of the bar before bouncing to safety.

Portugal claimed for a goal, but replays showed it had not crossed the line.

Jerome Boateng was forced to make a fine tackle on Ronaldo as he prepared to shoot inside the Germany box on 64 minutes. Gomez struck eight minutes later to settle the matches moments before he was going to be replaced.

Watched by Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, Portugal could have rescued a draw in the closing moments as Nani saw a cross clip the top of Germany's bar while Ronaldo's effort from distance was beaten out by Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer as it dipped and swerved in the air.

Neuer then spread himself superbly well to save from Varela after his fellow substitute Nelson Oliveira had shown some intelligence to play provider.

Portugal have never been eliminated from the group stage of the European Championships in five appearances. They at least know what is on the line before they confront Denmark.