Cristiano Ronaldo during a practice session, in Lisbon. (Reuters)

Lisbon: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo believes his side’s bold performance on a difficult pitch in Zenica last week will inspire them to overpower Bosnia at home on Tuesday and qualify for Euro 2012.

Friday’s scoreless draw left the two-legged playoff wide open but the Portuguese are confident they will make the most of home advantage after the Bilino Polje stadium’s swampy pitch stopped them converting their control of the match into a win.

“That wasn’t grass, we played on a vegetable patch. It was very difficult and still we did well and created chances,” Ronaldo said.

The world’s most expensive player, who last week picked up his second Golden Boot award as Europe’s top scorer, was the most dangerous player of the game but his finishing was hampered by the poor state of the pitch.

“We now have a second chance at home in front of our fans, with a good pitch and have all the conditions to ensure we win,” he added. “We have to assume we are favourites and show our superiority — we are a better team.”

Portugal, runners-up at Euro 2004, are on the verge of achieving their seventh consecutive qualification for a major international tournament.

A scoring draw or a win at the Luz Stadium on Tuesday would send the Bosnians to their first major tournament as an independent nation. They were, meanwhile, hoping a better pitch would also work in their favour.

“Maybe the Portuguese think we will be easier opponents on a better surface but we won’t. The fact is that we are also looking forward to play on a quality pitch,” Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko said.

Elsewhere, in Zagreb, any premature celebrations over a 3-0 win in Turkey in the first leg of their Euro 2012 playoff could be fatal for Croatia and invite history to repeat itself, coach Slaven Bilic said ahead of the return game.

In Podgorica, Montenegro can overcome a 2-0 first-leg deficit against the Czech Republic in the second leg of their playoff on Tuesday and qualify for next year’s finals, coach Branko Brnovic said, admitting that some people might dismiss his confidence as “crazy”.

The 44-year-old former Yugoslavia midfielder, who took over at Montenegro in September and sealed their playoff berth with a 2-2 home draw against England, believed his team could turn the tie on its head with a similar gritty performance.