Portugal vs Switzerland in RO16
Lets run it back 🐐🔥pic.twitter.com/E2zPyf704Z
— CR7 Rap Rhymes (@cr7raprhymes) December 2, 2022
SportsMole:
After both qualified for the World Cup knockout phase with two wins from three, Group H winners Portugal meet Group G runners-up Switzerland at Lusail Stadium on Tuesday.
In one of just two all-European ties amid a diverse last 16, two teams who experienced very different fortunes in their final group fixtures contest a precious place in the quarter-finals.
A successful start to their Qatar 2022 campaign left Portugal needing just a point in the final round of group matches to be certain of finishing first, and qualification for the knockout stages had already been assured…
When they last met their Swiss counterparts in the UEFA Nations League earlier this year, there were two very different outcomes in the space of a few days: Portugal were comprehensive 4-0 winners in Lisbon – with Ronaldo bagging a first-half brace – before Switzerland then turned the tables with a 1-0 victory in Geneva.
After that summertime win in the Nations League, Switzerland went on to beat both Spain and the Czech Republic in the same competition, before kicking off their improbable quest for a first World Cup by winning two of their first three games in Qatar…
The Swiss have never before won three matches at a single World Cup finals, and have failed to reach the quarter-finals in their past seven attempts, but just 90 minutes – plus perhaps a little more – now separates Murat Yakin’s side from such a feat this year.
Not since they hosted the World Cup in 1954 have Switzerland reached the last eight, but having seen off neighbours and reigning world champions France to make the quarters at last year’s Euros, a squad well versed in the ebbs and flows of knockout football will surely fancy their chances on Tuesday.
Alison Rose
This will be a fun one to watch because I’m not overly pressed about who wins. I suppose I lean slightly more towards Switzerland, but not much.
JML
Rooting for the Swiss; ABR (Anybody But Ronaldo).
eclare
@JML: Same.
Haydnseek
@Alison Rose: When it comes to Switzerland I’ve always been neutral.
phdesmond
GOAL! Portugal 1-0 Switzerland (Ramos 17).
JML
2-0 Portugal, who needs Ronaldo?
Alison Rose
gonna be hard for the Swiss to fight back from this, it seems
phdesmond
GOAL! Portugal 2-0 Switzerland (Pepe 33).
Alison Rose
Yeah, looks like this one is pretty much done. I mean…not 100%, but like 99.8%
phdesmond
the winner is clear.
Alison Rose
LOL I look away for two minutes and the Swiss sneak one in. At least they won’t be shut out.
JML
Bench Ronaldo, his replacement checks in with a hat trick. LOLOLOL
Alison Rose
I think Sommer is just fucking done, LOL
Dadadadadadada
And the honor of Iberia is (somewhat) restored (for now)!
Alison Rose
QFs are gonna be fun.
Alison Rose
LOLOL at the NYT’s headline: Spain, fond of passing, bows out meekly when forced to shoot.
phdesmond
@Alison Rose:
good one!
billcinsd
Many people were saying pre-WC that Portugal was being hamstrung by the managers requirement to play everything through CR7. Today seems to prove that sentiment correct.
Paul in KY
@Haydnseek: Well played…