The Portuguese football team faces Switzerland today in the final round of 16 game of the 2022 World Cup, seeking to secure a place in the ‘quarters’ for the third time in history and 16 years after the last qualification.
Both in 1966 and in 2006, the ‘quinas’ team reached the quarterfinals, and on the first occasion the event did not yet contemplate the realization of the eighth finals. In both cases, Portugal would eventually reach the semi-finals, placing third in England and fourth in Germany.
After having conquered Group H, with six points, ahead of South Korea, led by Paulo Bento, who also moved on, the formation led by Fernando Santos will face a Switzerland that was in second place in Group G, in equal with leaders Brazil, but at a disadvantage on goal difference.
Moreover, this will be the third clash between the two teams this year, following the two held for the League of Nations, both in the space of a week, in June, with Portugal winning 4-0 in Alvalade and, a week returned, to be beaten 1-0 in Geneva.
For the duel with the Swiss, Fernando Santos should make several returns to the ‘eleven’ compared to the one presented with South Korea, namely Rúben Dias, Raphaël Guerreiro, William Carvalho, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and João Félix, who will join Diogo Costa, João Cancelo, Pepe, Rúben Neves and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Even so, the biggest doubt has to do with Ronaldo, following the displeasure he expressed when he was substituted against the South Koreans. The selector confessed, on Monday, that he didn’t like “really anything” the attitude of the forward, but did not reveal whether the captain will start from the beginning, which will be the most expected.
Portugal and Switzerland face off in the last of eight games in the round of 16, starting at 22:00 local time (19:00 in Lisbon), at Estádio de Lusail.
Before, from 18:00 local time, Morocco and Spain will also compete for a place in the ‘quarters’, in Al-Rayyan, with the winner going to face the Portuguese or Swiss in the next round.
The quarter-finals table, which is complete today, has already defined the following duels: England-France, Netherlands-Argentina and Croatia-Brazil.
The Mundial2022 runs until December 18, in Qatar.
