Official line-up Portugal v Switzerland, the match between the Portuguese and Swiss rounds off the round of 16: goalscorers, cautions and shooters predictions
To reach the quarter-finals, CR7’s Portugal will have to overcome a decidedly tough opponent: Murat Yakin’s Switzerland, runners-up behind Brazil in Group G. In the match that sends the round of 16 into the archives, there are many points for reflection. Starting with the fact that this will be the third time, in 2022, that the two selections will face each other. In fact, they have already faced each other on two occasions in the last Nations League and ended with a victory on each side: 4-0 for Portugal in the first leg in Lisbon, 1-0 for Switzerland in the return match played in Geneva.
Fernando Santos’s Lusitanians, despite a less than inspirational Cristiano Ronaldo, won their group match without any major problems: the defeat against South Korea on the last day was irrelevant. Switzerland also had a respectable path, beating competition from Cameroon and Serbia in a group substantially dominated by Brazil. Switzerland’s last appearance in the top eight of a World Cup was 68 years ago. But let’s take a look at the line-up choices.
- PORTOGAL (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro; Otavio, Carvalho, Bernardo Silva; Bruno Fernandes, Gonçalo Ramos, Joao Felix. CT: Fernando Santos
- SWITZERLAND (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Fernandes, Akanji, Schar, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas; Embolo. CT: Murat Yakin.
Portugal v Switzerland official line-up, goalscorer prediction
The news is sensational: Cristiano Ronaldo will start from the bench in the round of 16 against Switzerland. In his place, in the centre of the Portuguese trident, will play Gonçalo Ramos, the young Benfica striker. You can bet a chip on the 2001-born centre forward, who will do everything to repay his coach’s trust.
Bruno Fernandes, perhaps Portugal’s main dragger up to this point in the tournament, is also one of the possible scorers. In Switzerland, Shaqiri, who scored against Serbia, has been in great form: it cannot be ruled out that the former Inter Milan player, who now plays in the Mls, could repeat his performance.
Portugal v Switzerland official line-ups, probable cautions and marksmen
Switzerland’s rearguard could go down several times over the ninety minutes (or maybe more): Freuler and Rodriguez risk yellow. Portugal’s experienced centre-back Pepe, who has a certain feeling for cautions, could end up in the referee’s notebook. We expect at least one shot on goal from Joao Felix, once again preferred to Leao. Among Yakin’s men, however, Embolo will be one of the most dangerous.
