Spain vs Portugal Live Streaming
Spain vs Portugal Live Streaming
Kick-Off: Tuesday, June 29, 20:30 CET.
Green Point Stadium, Cape Town.
Spain vs Portugal Live Streaming
Spain vs Portugal FORM GUIDE
Spain
June 25: Chile 1-2 Spain (World Cup)
June 21: Spain 2-0 Honduras (World Cup)
June 16: Spain 0-1 Switzerland (World Cup)
Jun 8 Spain 6-0 Poland (Friendly)
Jun 3 Spain 1-0 South Korea (Friendly)
Portugal
June 25: Portugal 0-0 Brazil (World Cup)
June 21: Portugal 7-0 North Korea (World Cup)
June 15: Ivory Coast 0-0 Portugal (World Cup)
June 8: Portugal 3-0 Mozambique (Friendly)
June 1: Portugal 3-1 Cameroon (Friendly)
TEAM NEWS
Spain
Centre-back Raul Albiol has been ruled out of the last 16 clash with Portugal on Tuesday with sprained ligaments in his right ankle. He fell awkwardly during a training session on Saturday and was carried off the pitch. Xabi Alonso sprained his ankle in Spain’s 2-1 win against Chile and, although it is said to be a minor problem, the Real Madrid midfielder may not start.
Alonso’s possible absence could allow Javi Martinez to start alongside Sergio Busquets in defensive midfield. This will give Xavi more freedom to pull the strings in the attacking midfield department. Fernando Torres will start despite his poor form in the World Cup and David Silva will be on the bench.
Portugal
Midfielder Deco has made a recovery from the hip injury that forced him to miss Portugal’s final Group G game against Brazil. But the former Champions League winner with Barcelona is unlikely to be drafted into the starting line-up by coach Carlos Queiroz as Tiago has done quite well so far.
However, midfielder Danny is a doubt for the Spain game after suffering a bruise on his left thigh. Ruben Amorim also remains a doubt with a thigh problem.
Paulo Ferreira should start at right-back while Pepe is likely to retain his place as the defensive midfielder. Atletico Madrid’s Simao Sabrosa will occupy one wing while Cristiano Ronaldo will be on the other.
Probable Line-up (4-3-3): Eduardo, Ferreira, Alves, Carvalho, Coentrao; Tiago, Pepe, Raul Meireles; Simao, Liedson, Ronaldo
PLAYERS TO WATCH
David Villa (Spain)
The newly signed Barcelona player is one of the best strikers in the world – some even suggest that he is the best. Indeed, Villa has been Spain’s best and most consistent player so far in the World Cup, having scored three goals and set up the other, meaning that he has played indispensable roles in all of Spain’s goals scored in the World Cup.
Portugal have a brilliant defensive record but to maintain it they will have to stop Spain’s all-time top goalscorer in the World Cup finals, who is placed ninth in the Castrol Rankings.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
The Real Madrid superstar has had a modest World Cup campaign so far, having failed to light up the competition as much as he would have liked to. However, Ronaldo came good in the second half against North Korea and was arguably the most threatening player on the pitch against Brazil.
Portugal don’t have a great striker or a prolific goalscorer but on Tuesday evening, Ronaldo, placed second in the Castrol Rankings, will have to ‘invent’ the game and create chances. The former Manchester United star will also be deadly on set-pieces.
PREDICTION
On paper Spain should be the favourites given that they have better quality players and are more coherent as a team. In fact, theoretically Spain are better in every area than Portugal and a win for the European champions is on the cards.
However, Portugal have a very good defensive record and a combative midfield that is not going to let itself get overrun easily by the Spanish armada. Moreover, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Simao on the wings, Portugal are very deadly on the counter-attacks.
The Castrol World Cup match predictor suggests a 63% chance of Spain winning the match while Portugal are given just 37%. However, the match will be closer than those stats suggest and one shouldn’t really be surprised if it goes to penalties.
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