Rescuing a draw in the Iberian derby against Spain, Portugal turn their attention to the second game of the Nations League against a dejected Switzerland team.
Off the bench, Ricardo Hota made a steady impact in scoring the leveller in the 1-1 draw for the Selecao over their rivals while the Swiss army lost 2-1 miserably in the hands of Czech Republic.
POR vs SUI UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Match Details
Date: Sunday 5th June 2022/ Monday 6th June 2022
Time: 20:45 (CET)/ 00:15 (IST)
Venue: Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon
POR vs SUI POR vs SWT UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Match Preview
Fernando Santos’s defensive football is often criticized but it almost paid dividends in the Iberian derby against Spain as only their lack of finishing left them frustrated in the 1-1 draw. Rafael Leao was in the heart of it and should have made life way easier for the Selecao with his two-goal mouth chances, skying the first and having the second one saved by Spain’s number one Unai Simon due to a delayed strike on goal. Their rivals could also have done the same if Jordi Alba managed to guide his header on target in an eventful game. The manager believes a result-oriented game is more important than making it beautiful so Portugal are unlikely to move away from their existing ways under him. However, they cannot wait for a super-sub contribution like Ricardo Horta to receive their reward against an opposition licking the wounds of a defeat. The boost for Portugal is both Diogo Jota and Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit to begin the game. Having two finishers in the opening eleven could help earn the points early in the game. Horta will be wishing to make another impact from the bench after scoring his first-ever goal for the national side. Portugal wants this win to build some momentum in this demanding month where they face the Swiss twice.
Head coach Murat Yakin will be upset about his team’s defensive howler in the 2-1 defeat to Czech Republic. After having an early Breel Embolo chance saved by Tomas Vaclik, Switzerland went behind through Jan Kuchta’s goal following a mix up in the box. Okafor, in scoring mood, equalised just before the break in an attempt to lift his side. Unfortunately, Djibril Sow deflected a long cross straight into his own net deceiving Yann Sommer in the post. Czech goalkeeper Vaclik proved to be a brick wall stopping almost every effort on target restricting any possible way to get back into the game let alone a win. This leaves Switzerland with one win in their last five games. While Yakin has overseen a successful tenure till now since taking over Vladimir Petkovic after the Euros, he will wish to set aside these results ahead of the World Cup in Qatar. The event in which they gained automatic qualification ahead of Italy going on to stopping the Azzurri at home. They are wishing to improve their third-place finish in their group behind Spain and Germany in the Nations League last season. Portugal will be a difficult opponent to change their run after not winning against them in the last two meets.
Recent Form
Portugal: DWWLD
Switzerland: LDLWD
POR vs SUI UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Team News
Ruben Dias remains injured for the Selecao so Danilo Perreira is unmoved from the back four. Cristiano Ronaldo started on the bench in the draw versus Spain but could return to the starting line-up in this one. The same can be said about Diogo Jota who played no part in the Iberian derby but will be ready on Sunday. Milan star Rafael Leao will keep his place on the left while Ruben Neves may get the nod ahead of Joao Moutinho in the midfield.
Manager Murat Yakin has a fully fit squad available to him but there should be a few changes following the defeat to Czech Republic. The key change will be to start Xherdan Shaqiri and change into a back four. Breel Embolo could be dropped for Haris Seferovic to have more chances of a goal alongside the in-form Noah Okafor.
POR vs SUI UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Expected Lineups
Portugal: Diogo Costa; Joao Cancelo, Pepe, Danilo Pereira, Raphael Guerreiro; Bernardo Silva, Ruben Neves, Bruno Fernandes; Diogo Jota, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leao
Switzerland: Yan Sommer; Silvan Widmer, Fabian Schar, Nico Elvedi, Ricardo Rodriguez; Xherdan Shaqiri, Remo Freuler, Granit Xhaka, Steven Zuber; Noah Okafor, Haris Seferovic
POR vs SUI Head to Head
The last meeting between the sides occurred in this competition itself in the semifinal stage. It was Cristiano Ronaldo, on his return to the national side, who scored a hattrick that drowned Switzerland that day. Ricardo Rodriguez's controversial equalizer from the spot became a mere consolation in a 3-1 defeat.
POR vs SUI UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Sommer (8.5)
DEF: Cancelo (9), Danilo (8.5), Elvedi (8.5), Rodriguez (9)
MID: Fernandes (9), Xhaka (9), Shaqiri (9.5)
FW: Jota (9.5), Ronaldo (10.5), Okafor (8.5)
Captain: Cristiano Ronaldo
Vive-captain: Bruno Fernandes
