Portugal vs Switzerland – Round of 16 – Preview & Prediction | 2022 FIFA World Cup
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THE FACTS
When is Portugal vs Switzerland on and what time does it start? Portugal vs Switzerland will take place on Tuesday 6th December, 2022 – 19:00 (UK)
Where is Portugal vs Switzerland taking place? Portugal vs Switzerland will take place at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar
Where can I get tickets for Portugal vs Switzerland? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Portugal vs Switzerland
What channel is Portugal vs Switzerland on in the UK? Portugal vs Switzerland will be televised live on BBC / Portugal vs Switzerland will be televised live on ITV
Where can I stream Portugal vs Switzerland in the UK? Portugal vs Switzerland can be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app / Portugal vs Switzerland can be streamed live on the ITV Hub
THE LOWDOWN
PORTUGAL
- Portugal successfully topped Group H despite falling to defeat in their final group game against Korea Republic, setting up this all-European clash in the round of 16.
- Midfielder Otavio is expected to be passed fit in what would be a big boost for Portugal and should centre-back Danilo Pereira also be fit to play, then Fernando Santos will have a decision to make on whether to bring him back into the starting line-up, or stick with timeless 39-year-old Pepe.
SWITZERLAND
- A thrilling 2-3 victory over Serbia guaranteed Switzerland’s passage into the knockout stage for a third consecutive World Cup and a fifth successive major international tournament.
- Both goalkeeper Yann Sommer and centre-back Nico Elvedi have returned to training after missing Switzerland’s final group game and are in contention to start, whilst Fabian Schar is doubtful after suffering from a cold.
THE TEAM NEWS
PORTUGAL
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Pepe, Guerreiro; B. Silva, Neves, Otavio; Fernandes, Ronaldo, Felix
UNAVAILABLE: Nuno Mendes (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Danilo Pereira (Injured), Otavio (Injured)
SWITZERLAND
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Xhaka, Freuler; Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas; Embolo
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Elvedi (Injured), Schar (Illness), Sommer (Injured)
THE KEY STATS
- This is Portugal and Switzerland’s first encounter at a World Cup final competition. Although they have faced each other nine times in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches
- Portugal and Switzerland have already met twice in 2022 with both teams claiming a victory each in the UEFA Nations League
- Portugal are through to the FIFA World Cup round of 16 for the fourth time in the last five editions of the competition
- Portugal have lost their last two World Cup round of 16 matches. Their only previous success in a round of 16 match was a 1-0 win against the Netherlands in 2006
- Portugal have lost their last four World Cup knockout stage matches. They last success in a World Cup knockout tie was their penalty shoot-out victory against England in the 2006 quarter-finals
- Portugal have not failed to score in their last nine FIFA World Cup matches. This is their longest sequence of successive games with a goal in the history of the tournament
- Portugal have drawn two and lost four of their last six World Cup matches against European nations
- This is Portugal’s tenth match in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup and it will be the eighth time they have faced European opposition
- Against Korea Republic, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first Portuguese player to make 20 appearances in the FIFA World Cup – no other player has made more than 11 (Simão Sabrosa)
- Cristiano Ronaldo needs one goal to equal Eusebio’s record of nine goals in World Cup matches for Portugal
- Three-time FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists, Switzerland are aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954
- Switzerland have qualified from their group in each of the last two World Cup final competitions and have now only missed out on the knockout phase in one of their most recent six participations
- Switzerland have lost their previous four World Cup round of 16 ties (including one via a penalty shoot-out *since the current format of group stage followed by round of 16 was introduced in 1986
- Switzerland have not scored a goal in their previous four World Cup round of 16 ties *since the current format of group stage followed by round of 16 was introduced in 1986
- Xherdan Shaqiri has become the first Swiss player to score in three different FIFA World Cup final competitions – 2014, 2018 and 2022
- Xherdan Shaqiri has scored five goals in FIFA World Cup history – only Sepp Huegg (six in 1954) has scored more goals for Switzerland
- Against Serbia, Xherdan Shaqiri, Ricardo Rodriguez and Granit Xhaka became the all-time leading appearance-makers in the FIFA World Cup for Switzerland with 11 appearances
THE PREDICTION
Switzerland may not boast the star attractions that Portugal have within their side, but they have already proven previously in knockout tournament football that this stands for nothing, knocking France out of EURO 2020 in the round of 16 on penalties. That puts into perspective the task ahead of Portugal, who will need to show the attacking ruthlessness that served them so well in their opening two group matches. Such offensive firepower should stand them in good stead though and they are worth backing to get the better of Switzerland in 90 minutes.
TIP: PORTUGAL TO WIN
