UEFA Nations League: Portugal Go To Czech Reliant On CR7

Czech Republic vs Portugal

I can remember the inaugural UEFA Nations League Final, a day when Portugal and the best player in the world showed the young pretenders how it was done.

On that occasion, Portugal were the reigning European champions and saw off a Dutch side in transition.

Fast forward just over three years and, despite some observers now believing Portugal have a stronger all-round squad than they did then, Holland are level pegging with them when you study the SBOTOP Nations League betting odds for the forthcoming World Cup.

So, are Portugal a side on the wane?

Who knows but, certainly, tests like they face on Saturday evening in the Eden Arena should tell us more about their class of 2022.

This trip to the Czech Republic could also be an ideal time for some of their other star cast to take centre stage in the as they continue to rely heavily on a player who, while still a match-winner at 37 years of age, should not be expected to always get them out of a tight spot.

Talking Points

On saying that, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been deemed as one to watch in the build-up to this international break – hardly any wonder when you consider he has a fantastic record in the Nations League, with seven goals in nine games. And you can be sure he will be eager to produce more as he looks to add to his all-time record tally of 117 international goals in 189 caps.

If Portugal are keen to qualify for the semi-finals of the latest edition of the tournament, then they could do with some Nations League highlights in Group A2 as they currently trail neighbours Spain at the summit by a solitary point.

After the final two group games, the semi-finals will not take place until next June so it is hardly a priority with the World Cup on the horizon.

But success would do no harm to confidence as the showpiece tournament of 2022 draws ever closer.

Last time out against Switzerland, Haris Seferovic took just 57 seconds to head home the decisive goal to end Portugal’s hopes of three consecutive wins from their first three Nations League encounters, as well as ending a five-game unbeaten run in all tournaments.

That meant they gave up top spot to Spain in the group and this weekend they will be without star full-back Cancelo who is serving a one-match suspension.

As a result, manager Fernando Santos could well hand a start to Diogo Dalot on the right-hand side, although fellow defenders Pepe and Raphael Guerreiro have both withdrawn due to injury alongside Rafa Silva, who has retired from international duty at the age of 29.

Joao Felix is an option up front but I expect Ronaldo to win his 190th cap for the Selecao.

For the hosts, this is a time of transition and one they will feel when the action in Qatar begins in November.

Indeed, after they failed to make it past Sweden in the qualifying play-offs for the World Cup, the Czech Republic will be finished with competitive action at the end of the month as a first appearance on the biggest stage of them all since 2006 still eludes them.

This weekend they welcome back a player who, in the shape of Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick, impressed me enormously before missing six months of international football through injury.

Slavia Prague midfielder Petr Sevcik (illness) will be assessed, while fellow engine room member Michal Sadilek has not been called up owing to a hamstring injury.

That could mean West Ham man Tomas Soucek linking up with ex-Hammer Alex Kral in the midfield, while Tomas Vaclik should regain his place between the sticks.

The Czechs have little to lose this Saturday – whether that means they struggle to get motivated or can give Portugal a real battle without worrying too much about the outcome remains to be seen.

History

When they met in Lisbon in June, Cancelo and Goncalo Guedes were on target in a 2-0 Portugal victory, their third consecutive win over the Czech Republic.

The nations had previously only met in the European Championships in their three meetings before then.

Few who saw their Euro 96 quarter-final will forget that Karel Poborsky goal which settled the contest and, ultimately, helped seal him a move to Manchester United.

When they next met, in the group stages of Euro 2008, Ronaldo was joined on the scoresheet by Deco and Ricardo Quaresma in a 3-1 Portugal success.

They then met at Euro 2012 four years later in the quarter-finals stage when ‘you know who’ scored the only goal.

Betting Tip

Portugal are favourites but, with the Swiss on their tails, the Czech Republic do not want to slip to the bottom of the table and face potential Nations League relegation.

 

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