Portugal vs Switzerland - World Cup: Team news, lineups & prediction
Group H winners Portugal face Switzerland on Tuesday evening in the World Cup's final round of 16 tie.
Despite losing to South Korea in stoppage time, Fernando Santos steered Portugal out of the group stage for the fourth major tournament in a row. Murat Yakin is at his first international competition as a manager but oversaw Switzerland's progress behind Brazil in Group G with a spiky 3-2 victory over Serbia.
Here's everything you need to know about an encounter which promises to be just as hotly contested.
Where are Portugal vs Switzerland playing?
- Location: Al Daayen, Qatar
- Stadium: Lusail Stadium
- Date: Tuesday 6 December
- Kick-off Time: 19:00 GMT / 14:00 ET / 11:00 PT
Portugal vs Switzerland H2H Results (All Time)
- Portugal: 9 Wins
- Switzerland: 11 Wins
- Draws: 5
Current Form (Last Five Games)
- Portugal: LWWWL
- Switzerland: WLWLW
Portugal team news
PSG wingback Nuno Mendes was ruled out of the World Cup after sustaining a thigh injury. His club-mate Danilo Pereira damaged three ribs during a training session, leaving the converted centre-back's availability in doubt.
Otavio missed Portugal's final two group games with muscular discomfort but is nearing a return.
Portugal predicted lineup vs Switzerland
Portugal Starting 11 (4-3-3): Costa; Cancelo, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro; Bernardo, Neves, Carvalho; Fernandes, Ronaldo, Felix.
Bench: Patricio, Sa, Andre Silva, Dalot, Pereira, Palhinha, Vitinha, Mario, Nunes, Horta, Ramos, Antonio Silva, Leao.
Switzerland team news
First-choice goalkeeper Yann Sommer and centre-back Nico Elvedi both missed Switzerland's final group game against Serbia through illness. With four days to recover for the last 16, both are in with a chance of featuring.
Switzerland predicted lineup vs Portugal
Switzerland Starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Widmer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Xhaka, Freuler; Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas; Embolo.
Bench: Kobel, Omlin, Comert, Zakaria, Frei, Jashari, Aebischer, Fernandes, Rieder, Fassnacht, Steffen, Okafor, Seferovic, Schar.
Portugal vs Switzerland betting tips
Portugal to win to nil – Nine of Portugal’s last 11 wins in all competitions have come to nil.
Switzerland to win – Portugal have lost each of their last four knockout matches at the World Cup, with their last two such defeats coming at this exact stage (vs Spain in 2010 & Uruguay in 2018).
Draw? No – Portugal have gone nine games without a draw in all competitions, while none of Switzerland’s last 10 games have ended level. Indeed, none of the last seven meetings between Portugal (4 wins) and Switzerland (3 wins) have been drawn.
Both teams to score? No – Both teams have scored in just one of the last seven meetings between Portugal and Switzerland.
Both teams to score - no is currently 3/4*
Portugal to score first & win – Portugal have opened the scoring in eight of their last nine World Cup games, while Switzerland have lost all four of their knockout games in the competition when they’ve conceded first.
Anytime scorer – All eight of Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup goals have come in the group stage of the competition, failing to find the back of the net in any of his six knockout appearances for Portugal, despite playing 514 minutes and having 25 total goal attempts.
Cristiano Ronaldo to score anytime is currently 13/8*
Bruno Fernandes anytime scorer & 2+ shots on target – Bruno Fernandes has scored five goals from six shots on target in his last five internationals, having all three of Portugal’s shots on target in his last appearance against Uruguay.
Anytime scorer – Breel Embolo has scored four goals in his last five competitive appearances for Switzerland.
Switzerland 2+ cards – Switzerland have been shown 2+ cards in eight of their last 10 games in all competitions, receiving four last time out against Serbia (11 in the game overall).
Insights courtesy of Opta. Head to The Analyst Stats Hub for live group stage standings, top scores, match metrics, team stats and much more!
*Odds correct at time of publication. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
Portugal vs Switzerland score prediction
This is a meeting between two sides that know each other well. Switzerland had only played six competitive matches in 2022 before the World Cup but still managed to face Portugal twice. Portugal thrashed Die Nati 4-0 in the Nations League match in Lisbon before almost the exact same side - minus Cristiano Ronaldo - lost 1-0 in Geneva just seven days later.
If Portugal are a team that struggles to harness the full potential of their talented individuals, Switzerland are far greater than the sum of their parts. “We don’t have Ronaldos and Messis in the team, we only function when we work together,” their captain, Granit Xhaka, says. “Playing against us is very uncomfortable.”
In what may well be an attritional contest, it may be tight even if it goes to penalties as both nations possess specialist goalkeepers in that area. Theoretically, the technical excellence of Portugal's team should give them the edge but it could go either way.
Prediction: Portugal 1-1 Switzerland (Portugal win on penalties)
Harry Symeou hosts Andy Headspeath, Toby Cudworth & La Liga TV presenter Semra Hunter to look back on the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa - join us!
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