Portugal wants all three points against the Czech Republic to stay in touch with rivals and league leaders Spain for the playoff spot.
Fernando Santos’s men suffered an unexpected loss against Switzerland in their last Nations League while the Czechs also came into the fixture with a 2-0 loss to Spain.
CZE vs POR Match Details
Date: Saturday, 24 September 2022 / Sunday, 25 September 2022
Time: 20:45 (CET) / 00:15 (IST)
Venue: Sinobo Stadium, Prague
CZE vs POR Match Preview
Czech Republic have hit a barren run in the Nations League since opening the campaign with a 2-1 win over Switzerland. The 2-2 draw at home against Spain promised more things to come out of the side which soon hit reality after successive 2-0 losses to Portugal and La Roja respectively. Cemented at third place with four points from four matches, Jaroslav Silhavy’s side still have a chance to qualify for the finals next year but they have to avoid further losses to make it possible. However, those losses came away from home where the Czechs are unbeaten in the last six matches. Confidence will be high for obvious reasons and the 2-2 draw against Spain in June should remind La Roja’s rivals Portugal of the threat the Czechs carry inside them. Firstly, they have to pick up a win against Portugal and hope Switzerland halt Spain’s unbeaten start to this Nations League campaign to reduce the gap with the top to one point. However, the priority for the home side will be to stay in League A and that can also be done with a victory from a subsequent Switzerland loss. Silhavy will be turning to the greatest strength of the team, its attack led by Bayer Leverkusen star Patrick Schick. The 26-year-old was not included in the games in June due to injury but it did not prevent the Czechs from scoring goals. In fact, the Locomotives have scored in every home games in the Nations League and only failed to score being the hosts back in 2016 but have failed to keep out opposition from rippling their net as their three clean sheets in 10 home games have come against lower sides. Having lost to Portugal away in the reverse fixture and only one win against them in four meetings so far Silhavy’s men have little optimism before welcoming the Selecao to Prague. Avoiding defeat has to be on the agenda to avoid a last-game relegation pointer against Switzerland.
The visitors Portugal are on a more comfortable seat sitting second in the group and trailing Spain by just a point in their race to be in the Nations League finals to eventually clinch the trophy which they won in the inaugural edition. Fernando Santos’s side began this season’s tournament with a 1-1 draw in the Iberian derby against Spain going on to record emphatic wins over Switzerland and the Czech Republic before the former inflicted the first defeat to them of 2022 through a Haris Seferovic strike 57 seconds after kick-off. That was also the second defeat overall for Portugal in the Nations League. It was not damaging as returning back to winning ways will take the Selecao at the top of the chart if Spain drops points against Switzerland in their game. Portugal took a harder route to qualify to the World Cup through playoffs although Turkey and then North Macedonia in the rounds were ousted comfortably. Slotted in a tough group alongside South Korea, Ghana and Uruguay the team will use the Nations League games this month for pre-World Cup preparations. The Selecao have a positive record against the Czech Republic only issue has been their poor run on the travels. Three winless games including the loss against Switzerland and draws to Spain and Ireland has forced Santos’s men to find a solution to end the streak knowing their opposition’s stirring home record. However, Portugal have won in the last two trips to the central European nation with a certain Cristiano Ronaldo scoring on both the occasions in 2008 and three years later in 2012. Their first and only loss in this meeting came way back in 1996. The 2-0 win in the reverse fixture in June also gives them a boost of confidence. Nothing other than a victory will keep Portugal in the race so three points are of an urgent need to move into the final group game against Spain for the playoff decider.
Recent Form
CZE: LLDWD
POR: LWWDW
CZE vs POR Team News
Czech Republic’s big boost is having Patrick Schick back with the squad having missed the first four games in June due to an injury and will be hoping to continue the nation’s scoring streak at home. Midfielder Petr Sevcik is dealing with an illness with Michael Sadilek also struggling with a hamstring injury. Hence, Alex Kral will partner Thomas Soucek in midfield and first-choice keeper Thomas Vaclik is expected to regain his place over Ales Mandous.
Portugal has Cristiano Ronaldo in their setup despite not being a mainstay at Manchester United. The 37-year-old is in line to win his 190th cap for his nation. The Red Devil’s right-back Diogo Dalot will start the game to replace Joao Cancelo who is suspended after accumulating more yellow cards. Raphael Guerreiro, Joao Felix and Pepe have all picked up injuries but the Atletico Madrid forward is only doubtful for the fixture and has not withdrawn from the squad. Benfica’s Rafa Silva has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 29.
CZE vs POR Predicted Lineups
CZE: Tomas Vaclik; David Zima, Jakub Brabec, Vaclav Jemelka; Vladimir Coufal, Alex Kral, Tomas Soucek, Jaroslav Zeleny; Vaclav Cerny, Patrick Schick, Adam Hlozek
POR: Rui Patricio; Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Danilo Pereira, Nuno Mendes; Ruben Neves, William Carvalho, Bruno Fernandes; Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leao
CZE vs POR Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Patricio (7.5)
DEF: Dalot (7.5), Dias (8), Coufal (8.5), Mendes (8)
MID: B. Silva (8.5), Soucek (8), B. Fernandes (9)
FW: Cerny (7), Schick (9), Ronaldo (9)
Captain: Cristiano Ronaldo
Vice-captain: Bernardo Silva
