Prediction: Portugal vs Uruguay

Prediction: Match to end in 2-2 draw

Best Odds: 14/1

Bookmaker: Betfair

Portugal and Uruguay will face each other at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar next week. The Group H game between the European nation and the South American country will take place at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail next Monday and is scheduled to kick off at 7pm UK time.

Portugal

Portugal are among the favourites for the 2022 Qatar World Cup and have some wonderful players. Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the best forwards on the planet, while there are the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao and Joao Felix in attack as well. In defence, the Euro 2016 winners can boast of well-known players such as Pepe, Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo, and in midfield they have Ruben Neves and William Carvalho.

Fernando Santos’s side kicked off their 2022 Qatar World Cup campaign on a positive note. Portugal got the better of Ghana 3-2 at Stadium 974 in Doha. Ronaldo, whose contract at Manchester United was terminated by mutual contest this week, scored from the penalty spot. Felix and Leao also found the target for A Seleção.

Team News:

Cristiano Ronaldo, who had a few chances against Ghana to add to his tally, will keep his place in the Portugal starting lineup. Bruno Fernandes was the star of the show for the European team against Ghana, and he will be the architect-in-chief against Uruguay too. Ruben Neves and Bernando Silva will keep their respective places in the team as well.

Uruguay

Like Portugal, Uruguay have a very good team, but no one seriously expects them to win the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar. While the South American country will be expected to progress to the knockout stages, it is hard to see them get past the quarter-finals. Fernando Muslera, Diego Godin, Ronaldo Araujo, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Torreira and Federico Valderde are some of their most well-known players. Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Darwin Nunez are three of their biggest names in world football in the football department, and they are all part of the squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Uruguay, though, did not made the best of starts at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar. On Friday, the South American side played out a goalless draw with Asian giants South Korea at the Educational City Stadium in Al Rayyan. It was a very good game in which Uruguay were denied by the frame of the goal, and they will be disappointed that they did not pick up all three points in the end.

Team News:

Luis Suarez and Darwin Nunez were part of a front-three for Uruguay against South Korea, and it is very likely that the former Liverpool striker and the current Anfield star will keep their respective places in the team. Edinson Cavani could come on as a substitute in the second half. Rodrigo Bentancur and Federico Valverde will star in midfield for Uruguay. 

Key Factors to Consider

• Portugal had 62% of the possession against Ghana.
• Portugal took 11 shots against Ghana; 5 of them were on target.
• Portugal had 3 corners against Ghana.
• Uruguay had 56% of the possession against South Korea.
• Uruguay took 10 shots against South Korea; none was on target.

Conclusion

Portugal were the better team against Ghana, but the former European champions were not fully convincing, especially defensively. They also conceded a late equaliser. Now, of course, Ronaldo could have done better with one or two of his chances, but the signs are that they need to do much better against Uruguay, who are a better and more attacking team than Ghana. It is likely that the 2022 Qatar World Cup match between Portugal and Ghana will end in a draw.

Prediction: Match to end in 2-2 draw

Best Odds: 14/1

Bookmaker: Betfair