Coming off a shock loss to Georgia in the final group game, Portugal now faces the challenge of a solid Slovenia side in the Euro 2024 Round of 16 stage.
POR vs SLO Match Details
Date: Monday, 1 July 2024, Tuesday, 2 July 2024
Time: 21:00 (CET), 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Waldstadion, Frankfurt
POR vs SLO Match Preview
Claiming back-to-back wins over the Czech Republic and Turkey in the group stage of Euro 2024, Portugal stumbled against debutant Georgia in the final group game although with a much-changed squad. The 2-0 defeat did not do much damage as the Selecao won Group C with a game to spare but it put a slight stain on a positive campaign so far. With the prime contributors given their due rest and back in the starting eleven, the team will hope to bounce back with a last-16 victory against another potential giant killer Slovenia. Roberto Martinez’s side lost the first-ever meeting against their counterparts in the build-up to Euro 2024 with the same 2-0 scoreline so it might not be a straightforward task. Portugal also suffered a surprise elimination at the hands of Morocco in the 2022 World Cup and cannot allow a second strike of lightning. The team exited the Euros at this stage in the previous edition, also losing three of four knockout games in major tournaments. However, Portugal has never lost back-to-back games in the competition's history giving them a sense of optimism.
Banking on their solid defence with the leadership of Jan Oblak, Slovenia progressed to the knockout stage of the Euro Championship for the first time in their second appearance. Matjaz Kek's side played out consecutive 1-1 draws with Denmark and Serbia before halting group winners England to a goalless stalemate. It was enough for Slovenia to grab one of the best third-place team spots and create history. The unbeaten streak is extended to nine games with the side having every reason to believe in creating more miracles in the knockouts. Doing a Georgia equivalent against Portugal having already beaten them earlier does not look like a wild dream but doing it in a competitive meeting is a different challenge altogether. Upsetting the 2016 Euro winners will lock them with a tie against France or Belgium in the quarterfinals but Slovenia could at least cherish beating a powerhouse.
Recent Form (all competitions)
POR: WWL
SLO: DDD
Recent Form (Euro 2024)
POR: LWWWL
SLO: WDDDD
POR vs SLO Predicted Lineups
Portugal
Costa; Cancelo, Pepe, Dias, Mendes; Vitinha, Palhinha, Fernandes; Silva, Ronaldo, Leao
Slovenia
Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Balkovec; Stojanovic, Elsnik, Cerin, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko
POR vs SLO Dream11 Match Prediction
Portugal should break Slovenia’s resistance to seek revenge and make their way to the quarterfinal stage. We expect a decent 2-0 win for the Selecao.
POR vs SLO Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Cristiano Ronaldo
Vice-captain Picks: Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes
POR vs SLO Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Oblak (Cr - 7.5)
DEF: Karnicnik (9), Dias (Cr - 8.5), Cancelo (Cr - 8.5),
MID: Silva (9), Fernandes (Cr - 9), Elsnik (Cr - 8.5), Cerin (8), Vitinha (7.5)
FW: Sporar (9), Ronaldo (9)
Vice-captain: Bernardo Silva
Captain: Cristiano Ronaldo
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