Uruguay vs Portugal
Two nations, only one winner.
One with the best player in the world, the other with a point to prove.
It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing encounter at FIFA 2018, but intrigue surrounds this last 16 tie at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi.
Talking Points
It’s quite clear where you start: Despite not being one of the tournament’s top six sides on paper, the reigning European Champions know they always have a chance with Cristiano Ronaldo.
His hat-trick against Spain will not only be remembered as one of the FIFA 2018 highlights but also as further proof that he is the number one football player on the planet.
He has been in superb form. That trifecta of goals and winner against Morocco far outweigh his missed penalty against Iran.
Indeed, it could be argued the Real Madrid man has not only inspired but also dragged Fernando Santos’ men kicking and screaming to this stage.
While it’s unlikely Portugal can go all the way, you can never lose hope with Ronaldo on your side.
They may even feel hard done by considering that only a VAR error cost them the top spot in Group B and a potentially more straightforward passage in the knockout stages.
Ronaldo and Co. now come up against some players who will be familiar to him in the heat of combat.
In Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez, Ronaldo will be taking on foes from the Real-Atletico derby back in La Liga.
Uruguay have kept three clean sheets so far and their defence is probably the foundation upon which any World Cup challenge can stem.
Even if they took a while to get going, the Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez-led Uruguay are now showing that they could be a force to be reckoned with.
Oh yes, Suarez. The man who was sent home in disgrace from the World Cup four years ago after biting an opponent.
He, more than anyone at this World Cup, has a point to prove on the road to redemption.
Set pieces will likely be important for Oscar Tabarez’s men. All five of their goals in the group stages arrived that way, including three from corners.
On the team news front, Portugal left back Raphael Guerreiro, winger Gelson Martins and midfielder William Carvalho all sat out training on Thursday with minor muscular complaints.
Gimenez should be back in action after a thigh injury ruled him out of the final group match with Russia.
History
This will be the third encounter between Uruguay and Portugal, and their first at the World Cup.
They last met in July 1972 when they drew 1-1 at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã stadium in Brazil.
Portugal are unbeaten in their two previous meetings (1W 1D).
Meanwhile, Uruguay, along with Croatia, were the only team to win all their group matches.
Apart from penalty shoot-outs, Portugal have only lost one of their last 17 matches at World Cups. That was a 4-0 defeat to Germany four years ago, which they played much of with 10 men.
Uruguay have been eliminated at the last 16 on three of the last four occasions they’ve reached this stage. They lost in 1986 (to Argentina), 1990 (to Italy) and 2014 (to Colombia), but progressed in 2010 against South Korea.
Uruguay will be looking to win their opening four games at a World Cup for only the second time after 1930 when they won the first ever World Cup.
Facing Uruguay would mean Ronaldo equals former Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger as the player with the most appearances at World Cups and European Championships – 38 matches.
What are the odds
SBOBET odds show Portugal are priced @ 2.01 to progress to the next round with Uruguay just behind @ 1.93.
Portugal are also slight favourites to win the match with Asian Handicap FIFA 2018. You can get odds of -0.25 Portugal @ 2.51, compared to Uruguay -0.25 @ 2.36.
Although Uruguay’s defence has yet to be breached, there are attractive odds on goals in this one – perhaps not surprisingly given the likes of Ronaldo and Cavani will be on show.
The price of over 2.25 goals will pay out @ 2.47.
It’s also hard to separate the two nations on 1X2 odds with Portugal @ 2.81. The South Americans are @ 2.77 and the draw is also @ 2.92.
This should be an intriguing contest and, perhaps with some dark arts, might be too close to call.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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