Portugal vs Switzerland Predictions

• Switzerland saw both teams score in four of their five games at the Euros last year
• The Swiss have conceded in 12 of their last 14 matches
• Portugal have scored in each of their last nine World Cup games
• The Portuguese haven’t won a knockout game since 2016, while Ronaldo has never scored a World Cup knockout goal

Round three for pair

After two Nations League meetings earlier this year, the final game of the World Cup last 16 is the third clash between these two sides in 2022. Portugal won 4-0 in a match played in Lisbon, before Switzerland won 1-0 in Geneva a week later.

However, there’s reason to believe this encounter will be a lot more open, especially off the back of Switzerland’s thrilling victory which clinched their last 16 spot. They meet a Portugal side who qualified within two games and managed to top their group, but that doesn’t mean everything is rosy for the Euro 2016 winners.

Another thriller for Swiss?

Switzerland’s win over Serbia was arguably the game of the tournament so far, as they fought back from 2-1 down to win 3-2 and book their spot in the last 16. That thriller was just the latest high-scoring game for the Swiss, after a brilliant Euro 2020 campaign.

Switzerland saw both teams score in four of their five games at the last Euros, including a 3-3 draw with France at this stage of the tournament. They have plenty of attacking threat to worry Portugal, including striker Breel Embolo. He has scored in two of his three games at this tournament. Embolo has also recorded four strikes in six for his country, so back him to score again.

However, the last team to keep a clean sheet against Portugal at the World Cup was Germany in 2014. Portugal have scored at least once in each of their last nine games in the competition since then, while the Swiss have conceded in 12 of their 14 games in 2022. Back them to concede again, with another high-scoring clash looking likely.

Ronaldo and Portugal to struggle

While Portugal have impressed going forward, there’s little optimism for Cristiano Ronaldo now the group stage is over. He’s looked like a passenger on this side so far, while he has never scored a knockout round goal at a World Cup in his career. That’s despite playing 514 minutes and having 25 total goal attempts across six games, so don’t expect the ageing Ronaldo to excel.

His side could also struggle, despite winning two of their first three games. Portugal are looking to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for just the third time, but they’ve failed to win any of their last five knockout games at the tournament. They’ve lost each of their last four, including defeats at this stage in 2010 to Spain and in 2018 to Uruguay.

The Swiss have won three of the last six clashes with Portugal including the only one played at a tournament – a 2-0 win at Euro 2008. They looked great at the Euros and meet a Portuguese side who haven’t won a knockout game since 2016. With the Swiss free-flowing in their last clash, back them for a 2-1 win.

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