Strong Portugal set for Swiss test
PORTUGAL coach Fernando Santos has been boosted by news that key midfielder Otavio should be fully fit and ready to play in their World Cup last 16 match against Switzerland tomorrow (9pm kickoff).
After missing the last two games with a thigh injury, the Porto midfielder joined his teammates for training yesterday for the first time since their opening win over Ghana.
Centre-half Danilo Pereira, who sustained three broken ribs last week, is also recovering well and could feature later in the tournament.
His replacement in the last two matches was 39-year-old defender Pepe, who is likely to keep his place and be tasked with marking Swiss striker Breel Embolo, who has scored twice in the tournament.
Pepe will be paired with Manchester City centre-back Ruben Dias, who was rested for their last group match against South Korea which Portugal lost 2-1.
Santos was forced into a change at left back after Nuno Mendes was ruled out of the World Cup due to an injury suffered in the first half against Uruguay.
Santos switched Joao Cancelo to the left and brought in Diogo
Dalot at right back and the coach is expected to keep the same formation against Switzerland.
Captain Cristiano Ronaldo will bid again to equal the record of World Cup goals scored for Portugal held by Eusebio, who racked up nine in 1966 in England.
Switzerland have their own forward seeking a place in the record books.
Xherdan Shaqiri's goal against Serbia in the group stage meant he has found the net in more World Cup tournaments than any other Swiss player, having also scored in 2014 and 2018.
He is one goal away from matching the most World Cup goals scored by a Switzerland player - six, by Sepp Huegi all in 1954.
The Swiss quietly finished second in their group behind Brazil, victories over Cameroon and Serbia earning their place in the last 16.
Moreover, Shaqiri believes the Swiss have all the tools they need to make it to the World Cup quarterfinals, but they will need to work together if they are to beat Portugal.
The Swiss were on the wrong end of a 4-1 thrashing in Lisbon when the sides met in the Nations League in June before bouncing back with a 1-0 win, but none of that will matter in a knockout game, Shaqiri said.
“For me it is gonna be totally different, because there is no friendly game, this is no Nations League, the pressure is high, and so now it’s important how the players deal with this pressure,” the 31-yearold said on Sunday.
“We need a special performance. Portugal to be honest, they are a good team and for me also the favourite in this game, but we know our qualities too.
“We will try to have a good, special performance and try to cause them a lot of problem in the game.”
Winger Shaqiri scored in Switzerland’s high-pressure 3-2 win over Serbia to set up the clash with Ronaldo’s Portugal, and with the focus now switching to knockout football, the stakes are even higher.
“The key is really to have special performance from the whole team because you know, we are Switzerland, we have no Cristianos in our team,” Shaqiri said with a wry smile.
“As a team, we are always successful and this is gonna be also in this game the same. Everybody (has to) stick together. If everybody goes to the highest level of their performance, then I’m sure we have a chance to go through.”