2022 FIFA World Cup Team Previews: Portugal
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is less than a month away from kicking off in Qatar. Over the next 32 days, I will be previewing each team that will be taking part in the world’s most-watched event. Check out all of the team previews that have been done so far. Up next is Portugal.
This could be the last World Cup that Portugal will have Cristiano Ronaldo and they will be expecting to go out on a big note.
The qualifying process for “A Seleção” was very exciting. During the group stage, Portugal needed a point against Serbia on the last day to gain automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup. However, Aleksandar Mitrović had other plans and won the match with a last-minute goal. That meant that Portugal had to go through the UEFA playoff to get to the 2022 World Cup. In the playoff semifinal, they beat Turkey 3-1 before beating upset-bound North Macedonia 2-0 to qualify.
“A Seleção” have not been in the best form ahead of the 2022 World Cup with one win in their last three matches.
World Cup Appearances
For a team as well regarded currently as Portugal, it is somewhat surprising that the 2022 World Cup will be just their eighth appearance. This will be Portugal’s sixth straight World Cup appearance, but “A Seleção” only managed to qualify for two of the first 16 World Cups. Their first World Cup appearance came in 1966.
Best Finish at a World Cup
The first World Cup for Portugal was also their best finish. For the first of two times, “A Seleção” made it to the World Cup semifinal in 1966. They lost the match 2-1 against eventual champions England but bounced back to win the third-place match against the Soviet Union 2-1 with a last-minute winner. They did make the semifinal in 2006 but lost that match 1-0 to France. Portugal then lost in the third-place match against Germany 3-1.
Key players
The star of this Portuguese side is none other than Ronaldo. This is the fifth and possibly final World Cup for Portugal and if he scores just once at the 2022 World Cup he will become the first player to score in five different World Cups. He will lead the team and attack as captain, but he will have help in the attack with a few young players.
João Félix has not quite lived up to all the hype that was thrown on him once he joined Atletico Madrid, but he still poses a dangerous threat alongside Ronaldo. Joining them this World Cup is 23-year-old Rafael Leão. The youngster has grown up a lot this season with AC Milan having scored six goals in 14 Serie A matches. Despite this help, Portugal will be missing Diogo Jota who has been out injured since mid-October.
The midfield for “A Seleção” has some talented star players also. Between Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, the midfield will be tough to break down. While Fernandes has not been very good for Manchester United this season he still can change a match for Portugal.
Just like the midfield, the defense will be controlled by a pair of players who play their club football in Manchester. Manchester City center-back Rúben Dias and full-back João Cancelo are going to start every match at the 2022 World Cup for “A Seleção,” and they will be tough for any defense to break down.
Manager
Fernando Santos has been the manager of Portugal since 2014. In his first major tournament, Santos led “A Seleção” to the 2016 European Championships title. For his role in Portugal winning the nation’s first major trophy, Santos was named the European Coach of the Year in 2016.
Biggest Group Game – vs. Uruguay on Nov. 28
As mentioned in the Uruguay preview, this match has the potential to decide who wins Group H. It also may play a role in deciding who finishes second and would likely have to play Brazil in the Round of 16. This match also gives us some of the forwards of the future in Uruguay’s Darwin Nunez and Portugal’s Felix.
Prediction
Portugal is the slight favorite to win Group H and I believe they are for a reason. It may not be, but “A Seleção” will find a way to scrap out first place in the group stage. This would put them in another tough matchup with the runner-up of Group G which I predict to be Serbia. While on paper this would say Portugal should win, do not forget that it was Serbia that forced them to have to go the long route to qualify. Similarly to that last match, I think Mitrovic will be the difference and send Portugal home from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the Round of 16.
With that, the World Cup team previews are done. Now, sit back, grab a beer (unless you’re in Qatar and can’t), and let the fun begin.
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