Slovakia-Portugal is a match valid for the fifth day of Euro 2024 qualifying Group J and is played Friday at 8:45 p.m.: predictions.
Selected in a group where the only real threats are Bosnia and Slovakia, for Portugal so far everything has gone smoothly as originally predicted.
Four wins out of four, 14 goals scored, none conceded and qualification mortgaged with huge advance. Leaving aside the value of the opponents faced in the first few days (Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Bosnia, and Iceland), commissioner Roberto Martinez, who last winter took over from Fernando Santos, one of the architects of the historic triumph at the 2016 European Championships and now in charge of Poland, could not have imagined a better start. Yet there were not a few misconceptions that the former Belgium coach dragged behind him, having substantially failed to meet expectations in his previous experience, which ended without any titles despite dealing with an arguably unrepeatable golden generation. Martinez, in addition to introducing important innovations at the tactical level, such as the three-man defense, has put Cristiano Ronaldo, who even ended up on the bench in the last period of the Santos management, back at “center stage”.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Hamsik
Portugal, which on day number five can close all talks against the selection that so far, after the Lusitanians, has done better: Slovakia.
Lobotka and Kucka
Hamsik and his teammates, coached by Italian Francesco Calzona – Maurizio Sarri’s former collaborator in his Napoli days – were no less, collecting 10 points in four matches. Most important was the success obtained in the direct clash with Bosnia, which could be decisive in the race for the second place, now “booked” by the Slovaks. For the awaited challenge with Portugal, Calzona has summoned the best, from Skriniar to Lobotka, passing through old Serie A acquaintances such as Vavro, Hancko, Kucka and Hamsik himself. Martinez has to cope with a few absences in defense, where veteran Pepe and flanker Guerreiro, who switched from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern in the summer, are missing from the roll call.
The prediction
Portugal has been a steamroller so far and most likely the three points will come in Slovakia as well. The hosts have been flawless with opponents within their reach but have not scored so much: five goals in four games. That is why the Portuguese defense could remain unbeaten again.
The probable lineups of Slovakia-Portugal
- SLOVAKIA (4-3-3): Dubravka; Pekarik, Skriniar, Vavro, Hancko; Duda, Lobotka, Kucka; Suslov, Bozenik, Mak.
- PORTOGALLO (3-4-3): Diogo Costa; Danilo Pereira, Ruben Dias, Antonio Silva; Cancelo, Palhinha, Bruno Fernandes, Dalot; Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Leao.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 0-2
