Memories of the disastrous group stage elimination in Brazil in 2014 have been banished. Only the second time in their history (2006, 2010) that Portugal have made it to the World Cup playoffs in a row. Even the defeat in the last game did not prevent salesao from taking the first place in the group, while the fiasco in the game with South Korea (1:2) left an unpleasant aftertaste. Moreover, the second place taken would send the team to the Brazilian national team, which is unlikely to suit the fans and the players themselves. The chances in the game with the “pentacampions” are much less than with any other national team. In addition, the wards of Fernando Santos must take into account their mistakes and not repeat the sorties in the 2010 and 2018 tournaments. It is worth remembering that in the last two cases, when the European team won the group in 1966 and 2006, the chosen ones made their way to the semi-finals and final. Mendes, Otavio and Pereira, who has a broken rib, will not be able to play today.
Having finished second behind Brazil on goal difference in one of the toughest groups in this tournament, Switzerland will reach the round of 16 for the third time in a row. Coach Murat Yakin said after their decisive 3:2 victory over Serbia that the only thing they regret is the “one goal” they need to win the group. After that, the mentor added that “we will gladly fight Portugal in order to disturb them as much as possible.” The Naties already proved their mettle when they beat today’s opposition in the UEFA Nations League last June. However, the Swiss will have to become the authors of another record in order to continue their journey along the World Cup tournament distance. The team has never won three games in a row in history. Notably, Switzerland participated in the highest scoring match in World Cup history when they lost 5:7 to Austria in 1954. More todays football predictions can be obtained from the link provided.
