Portugal vs Switzerland Prediction | The Analyst
After winning Group H, Portugal will meet Group G runners-up Switzerland in the round of 16 in Qatar 2022. We watch a preview of the K’s game ahead of kick-off at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
Portugal vs Switzerland preview
Switzerland are aware that they are not favorites against Portugal in the Round of 16, but they also know that one day at this World Cup didn’t mean much.
There was no shortage of shocks at Qatar 2022, including Portugal who lost their previous game 2-1 to South Korea.
Switzerland doesn’t need a long memory either to remember their own win against Portugal. This is the third clash between the sides in 2022, with Haris Seferovic scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win in their last Nations League encounter.
In fact, Switzerland also defeated Portugal 2-0 in their only major tournament meeting to date, at Euro 2008.
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“We know how to beat them,” said Xherdan Shaqiri. “It’s going to be a completely different game.
“The pressure on both sides is much greater and whoever loses goes home. This makes the game much more exciting.
“Portugal are favourites, but we saw Argentina’s example [against Australia] that everyone expected them to have an easy game and that they had many difficulties.
“Just as Australia posed problems for Argentina, we can pose a lot of problems for Portugal with a special game on our part.”
Switzerland have never won three games in a single World Cup, but they took six points in Group G, separating them on goal difference from group favorites Brazil.
They have not made it to the quarter-finals since the tournament was hosted in 1954, although Portugal themselves have progressed through that stage only twice.
The Selecao’s last KO victory at a World Cup (without a penalty shoot-out) came in 2006 in the round of 16 against the Netherlands.
players to watch
Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo is rarely not Portugal’s player to watch – “we can’t take our eyes off him,” said Shaqiri – but that’s especially true ahead of the knockout rounds.
Until Saturday, Ronaldo had shared with Lionel Messi the record for most World Cup goals without ever scoring in the knockout stages (eight)…then Messi broke his duck.
Switzerland: Xherdan Shaqiri
Breel Embolo tops Switzerland’s goalscoring charts with two goals in the group stage but Portugal will keep a close eye on Shaqiri.
Having scored against Serbia, he is the first Swiss player to score in three different World Cups and is just one shy of Josef Hugi’s Swiss record of six finals goals.
Portugal vs Switzerland Prediction
As suggested by Shaqiri, Portugal is the favorite as the supercomputer is given a 51.5% chance of winning.
The Selecao have only drawn one World Cup knockout game, defeating England on penalties in 2006, but that result is rated at 26.8%.
A repeat of Switzerland’s Nations League success against Fernando Santos’ men is given a 21.7% chance.
The Opta Challenge: World Cup Round of 16
Of course, there are seven more duels to play in this first knockout round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. You can play our Opta challenge game on each of these for a chance to win $500. Click on the links below to play (Conditions use).
England vs Senegal: games here
Japan vs. Croatia: games here
Brazil vs. South Korea: games here
Morocco vs. Spain: games here
Argentina vs. Netherlands (Quarterfinals): Coming soon