Portugal had a strong start to their campaign for Qatar 2022, meaning that they only needed one point in the final round of group games to guarantee themselves the top spot and automatic entry into the knockout stages.
It appeared that the Selecao would breeze through when Ricardo Horta, one of several new players introduced for the occasion by coach Fernando Santos, gave them the lead against South Korea in the fifth minute.
However, their opponents pulled off one of the numerous comebacks that have defined the first fortnight of the finals, tying the score before halftime and then scoring a dramatic goal in the 91st to defeat them 2-1.
Despite suffering their first setback, Uruguay’s victory over Ghana sealed Portugal’s progress as Group H top dogs, and they now seek to successfully negotiate the last 16 for the first time since 2006, when they ultimately finished fourth in Germany.
Santos must pick his team wisely in Lusail because the Selecao will be up against opponents with a track record of winning major finals, and there is still uncertainty regarding the health and form of one-man record breaker Cristiano Ronaldo.
When they last met their Swiss counterparts in the UEFA Nations League earlier this year, there were two very different outcomes in the space of a few days: Portugal were comprehensive 4-0 winners in Lisbon – with Ronaldo bagging a first-half brace – before Switzerland then turned the tables with a 1-0 victory in Geneva.
Following their victory over Spain in the Nations League during the summer, Switzerland went on to defeat the Czech Republic and Spain in the same competition before beginning their improbable journey of winning their first World Cup by claiming two of their opening three games in Qatar.
The Swiss have never previously won three games at a single World Cup finals and have missed the quarterfinals in seven of their previous attempts, but this year, Murat Yakin’s team is now just 90 minutes away from accomplishing such a feat.
Not since they hosted the World Cup in 1954 have Switzerland reached the last eight, but having seen off neighbours and reigning world champions France to make the quarters at last year’s Euros, a squad well versed in the ebbs and flows of knockout football will surely fancy their chances on Tuesday.
1×2 Betting Odds
The betting market see Portugal as the favourites in this, as their odds stand @ 1.95.
Switzerland for all their wonderful football are still the underdogs against a determined Portugal team! Their odds are @ 4.6.
The odds that the match ends in a stalemate after 90 mins are played, stands @ 3.5.
Portugal rarely struggles to score goals thanks to their wealth of attacking talent, but maintaining a lead is frequently a different story.
The Selecao frequently retreats as a result of Fernando Santos’ persistent negativity, which would give a strong Swiss team the chance to assert themselves and buy more time.
Total goals over/under
The odds that the total number of goals score will be over 2.5, stands @ 2.24.
While the odds that the total number of goals will be under 2.5, stands @ 2.28.
