Switzerland is aware they are not favorites against Portugal in the last 16, but they also know that tag has not meant a great deal at this World Cup.

There has been no shortage of shocks at Qatar 2022, including Portugal losing their previous match 2-1 to South Korea.

Switzerland does not require long memories to recall a victory of its own against Portugal either. This is the third meeting between the sides in 2022, with Haris Seferovic scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory in their last encounter in the Nations League.

Indeed, Switzerland also beat Portugal 2-0 in the sides’ only previous clash at a major tournament at Euro 2008.

“We know how to beat them,” said Xherdan Shaqiri. “This will be a completely different game.

“There is much more pressure for both sides, and whoever loses will go home. This will make the game much more exciting. 

“Portugal is the favorite, but we saw the example of Argentina [against Australia] that everyone expected they had an easy game and they had a lot of difficulties.

“Just as Australia posed problems to Argentina, with a special game on our part, we can pose a lot of problems to Portugal.”

Switzerland has never won three matches at a single World Cup, but they took six points in Group G, only goal difference separated them from pre-tournament favorites Brazil.

They have not made the quarter-finals since hosting the tournament in 1954, although Portugal has only been beyond this stage twice.

Indeed, the Selecao’s last knockout win at the World Cup (not including penalty shoot-outs) came in a last-16 tie against the Netherlands in 2006.

Portugal Team News

PSG wingback Nuno Mendes was ruled out of the World Cup after sustaining a thigh injury. His club-mate Danilo Pereira damaged three ribs during a training session, leaving the converted center-back’s availability in doubt.

Otavio missed Portugal’s final two group games with muscular discomfort but is nearing a return.

Portugal predicted lineup vs Switzerland

Portugal Starting 11 (4-3-3): Costa; Cancelo, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro; Bernardo, Neves, Carvalho; Fernandes, Ronaldo, Felix.

Bench: Patricio, Sa, Andre Silva, Dalot, Pereira, Palhinha, Vitinha, Mario, Nunes, Horta, Ramos, Antonio Silva, Leao.

Switzerland Team News

First-choice goalkeeper Yann Sommer and center-back Nico Elvedi both missed Switzerland’s final group game against Serbia through illness. With four days to recover from the last 16, both are in with a chance of featuring.

Switzerland predicted lineup vs Portugal

Switzerland Starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Widmer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Xhaka, Freuler; Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas; Embolo.

Bench: Kobel, Omlin, Comert, Zakaria, Frei, Jashari, Aebischer, Fernandes, Rieder, Fassnacht, Steffen, Okafor, Seferovic, Schar.

Players to Watch

Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo is rarely not Portugal’s player to watch – “we can’t take our eyes off him,” said Shaqiri – but that is especially true heading into the knockout rounds. 

Until Saturday, Ronaldo had shared with Lionel Messi the record for the most World Cup goals without ever scoring in the knockout stage (eight)… then Messi broke his duck.

Switzerland: Xherdan Shaqiri

Breel Embolo leads the Swiss scoring charts with two strikes in the group stage, but Portugal will be keeping a keen eye on Shaqiri. 

After scoring against Serbia, he is the first Switzerland player to net at three different World Cups and is just one shy of Josef Hugi’s Swiss record of six final goals.

Portugal vs Switzerland Prediction

As Shaqiri suggested, Portugal is the favourites, given a 51.5% chance of winning by the supercomputer.

The Selecao have only drawn one World Cup knockout game, going on to beat England on penalties in 2006, but that outcome is rated at 26.8%.

A repeat of Switzerland’s Nations League success against Fernando Santos’ men is given a 21.7% chance.