Portugal vs Switzerland Match Analysis & Prediction
06/12/2022 10:00 pm
After both qualified for the World Cup knockout round with two victories from three, Group H winners Portugal face Group G runners-up Switzerland at Lusail Iconic Stadium on Tuesday.
In one of just two all-European clashed amid a diverse last 16, two nations who experienced very different fortunes in their final group matches contest for a place in the quarter-finals.
After a successful start to their Qatar 2022 campaign, Portugal needed just a point in the final round of group matches to be certain of finishing first, and qualification for the knockout phase had already been guaranteed.
When Ricardo Horta put them ahead against South Korea in the fifth minute, it seemed A Selecao would stroll straight through. However, their opponents equalised before the interval and then produced a dramatic 91st-minute goal to condemn them to a 2-1 defeat.
Despite suffering their first setback, Uruguay’s victory over Ghana secured Portugal’s progress as Group H winners, and they now aim to successfully negotiate the last 16 for the first time since 2006, when they eventually finished fourth in Germany.
Having seen his side start their World Cup be defeating Ghana 3-2 and then adding a 2-0 victory over Uruguay last Monday, Fernando Santos can apparently aim to break new ground this winter.
When Portugal last met Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League earlier this year, there were two very different outcomes in the space of a few days. A Selecao won 4-0 in Lisbon before their Swiss counterparts turned the tables with a 1-0 victory in Geneva.
After that victory in the Nations League, Swizterland went on to defeat both Spain and the Czech Republic in the same competition, before beginning their quest for a first World Cup by winning two of their first three matches in Qatar.
One point was thought to be enough for the second-placed nation to qualify from Group G, after their 1-0 victory over Cameroon was followed by a defeat to Brazil by the same scoreline, but Cameroon’s success over the Brazilians completely changed the picture.
It therefore took a hard-fought 3-2 win against Serbia in the nations’ fiery encounter at Stadium 974, during which 11 players were booked by the referee, to secure progress to the last 16.
Switzerland have never before won three games at a single World Cup finals, and they have failed to reach the quarter-finals in their past seven attempts, but just one game now separates Murat Yakin’s side from such a feat this year.
Portugal vs. Switzerland Head to head
These two nations have previously met on 15 occasions across all competitions, where Portugal have claimed six victories while Switzerland have won five, and they have drawn in four. Switzerland have scored 15 goals and conceded 19. In their last five meetings, Switzerland have won two while portugal have won three.
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06/09/2016Switzerland2Portugal0World Cup Qualification
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10/10/2017Portugal2Switzerland0World Cup Qualification
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05/06/2019Portugal3Switzerland1Nations League
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05/06/2022Portugal4Switzerland0Nations League
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12/06/2022Switzerland1Portugal0Nations League
Portugal Team News
Antonio Silva was handed his competitive debut against South Korea alongside Pepe, but Silva may make way as Ruben Dias returns to the back four.
Although captain Cristiano Ronaldo was one of three players replaced after 65 minutes on Friday, the Portugal record goalscorer will start up front once again.
Portugal's Last 5 Matches
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27/09/2022Portugal0Spain1Nations League
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17/11/2022Portugal4Nigeria0Friendlies
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24/11/2022Portugal3Ghana2World Cup
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24/11/2022Portugal2Uruguay0World Cup
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02/12/2022Korea Republic2Portugal1World Cup
Switzerland Team News
Switzerland will be hoping goalkeeper Yann Sommer can return to boost their back line after missing their final Group G game due too illness.
Murat Yakin’s side is likely to remain unchanged, as Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler provide the midfield screen ahead of a well-drilled defence and Breel Embolo leads the line up front.
Switzerland's Last 5 Matches
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27/09/2022Switzerland2Czech Republic1Nations League
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17/11/2022Ghana2Switzerland0Friendlies
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24/11/2022Switzerland1Cameroon0World Cup
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28/11/2022Brazil1Switzerland0World Cup
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02/12/2022Serbia2Switzerland3World Cup
Portugal vs. Switzerland: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: Portugal or X
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