Portugal VS Spain prediction FIFA World Cup

Match Time：6/16/2018 02:00 Saturday (GMT+8)

Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo wants to shine again ( Recent Form: W L D D W ) 

Reigning European champion Portugal will have this week fully remembered the 2014 World Cup. Four years ago, the South Europeans started with Germany as an opponent against a top country at the World Cup. The Portuguese went down hard 4-0 and lost Pepe with a red card. That turned out to be a costly defeat, because on the basis of a worse goal difference, the Seleção das Quinas could go home immediately after the group stage. It is therefore important for the men of national coach Fernando Santos to prevent a repetition of such a scenario. The current 4-4-2 formation of Portugal is in any case difficult to crack. Since the European Championship win of two years ago, the country lost only twice in regular time in 25 matches. Yet Portugal has some weak spots, especially in defense. The central duo Pepe (35 years) and Jose Fonte (34 years) is age and therefore lacks speed. Portugal will undoubtedly drop in and not want to give away too much space behind its defense. The great star of the team is of course Cristiano Ronaldo, who with his 33 years is probably on the eve of his last World Championship. In the national team he usually plays as a deep striker and he will probably be accompanied by Spain by Andre Silva. Portugal usually scores a lot from high crosses, so a key role is played by left winger Ricardo Quaresma, who with his velvet pedal technique can put the leather on the necktie of Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

Spain: Unrest at La Furia Roja ( Recent Form: D D W D W ) 

With Spain it is bumblebee. Julen Lopetegui was with fourteen victories, six draws and no defeat at La Furia Roja working on a nice series since he took over the baton from Vicente del Bosque after the 2016 European Championship. However, after he recently signed a contract to start working at Real Madrid after the World Cup, the Spanish Football Association deemed his position untenable and he was fired two days before the confrontation against Portugal. The timing of Real Madrid and Lopetegui to bring this news out was perhaps not convenient, but you would think that the coach would be professional enough to separate both things. The Spanish Football Association apparently thinks differently about this and has now set up sports director Fernando Hierro for the group. The Real Madrid legend (!) Has hardly any trainers experience, because he was only a blue Monday at the helm of the Spanish second division Real Oviedo. The big question now is of course what effect this remarkable trainer change will have on the players. Captain Sergio Ramos insisted on the preservation of Lopetegui on behalf of the selection, but his words were of no avail. However, it is not the case that the Spaniards are now in sack and ashes. "We must form a unity. Today, tomorrow, always, "says Ramos. In any case, it is expected that Hierro will continue on the same footing and will therefore change little to the intended basic election of Lopetegui. Right back Dani Carvajal is not completely fit and will probably stay away from Portugal in favor of Alvaro Odriozola. It is unclear, however, who will be at the point of attack. Diego Costa seems to have the best papers, although you may have to deal with the explosive nature of Iago Aspas or Rodrigo Moreno against the slow Portuguese defense. Also a false number nine in the person of David Silva or Marco Asensio is possible.

 

THE BETTING VERDICT:

After all, considering each position on the field, Spain of course the team is more appreciated. But Portugal is clearly not a dreamer and this is a game too important. Spain and Portugal have faced too many times and clearly in a match like this, the possibility of two teams holding up is very easy to happen. Ronaldo is strong, so Ramos is too understanding. Ramos, Isco, Marco Asensio, Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Portugal too. Most of the stars of the two teams playing in La Liga make them too understand each other. So, although Spain is more highly rated but it is difficult to win this match.

 

Portugal(N)  VS  Spain

Pick: Portugal 0.5