The group stages of Euro2016 conclude on Wednesday when the final two groups are played to an ending with the first group to finish on the day being Group F. Going into the final round of matches nothing has actually been decided in this group so there is all to play for.
The big profile match in the section on Wednesday sees Hungary, current leaders of the group, taking on Portugal who are still looking for their first win in the tournament. Defeat for Portugal will put them out of the tournament but a win could see them win the group such is how tight it is.
Having ridden their luck early on against Austria all credit must be given to Hungary for weathering the storm and countering it in style to win 2-0 and in many ways that is what they did against Iceland when they scored late to secure a 1-1 draw.
Hungary are refusing to be beaten in this tournament and are actually finishing matches well and that has been a good combination so far. Hungary know whatever happens in this match they are into the knockout stages but a draw here will see them into the last 16 as group winners if Iceland don’t beat Austria by more than a goal.
Key Man
With the potential for changes rife for Hungary in this match picking a key man isn’t easy but there is no reason for Gabor Kiraly to be rested. He has been quite brilliant in the tournament so far and if Hungary are to repel Ronaldo and co you would think their goalkeeper is going to need to have a big match. The former Palace keeper could be crucial here.
It is fair to say that this hasn’t been Cristiano Ronaldo’s tournament so far and as such it hasn’t been Portugal’s either but tournaments like this aren’t about how you begin them it is about how you finish them and very rarely do the champions come flying out of the traps so if Portugal can get the win they need to qualify it wouldn’t be a surprise if they go deep in the event.
Defensively Portugal haven’t looked too bad so far and it isn’t as though they haven’t been creating chances in the tournament. They have. They have just missed the majority of them but the one thing we know about Ronaldo is he isn’t going to keep missing and that is a daunting prospect for the Hungarians here.
Key Man
It is wholly predictable but if Portugal are to get the goals needed to secure their qualification then you would think that Cristiano Ronaldo is the man most likely to score them despite his poor run in the competition so far. Class is permanent though and he has plenty of that about him. This can be the game he comes good.
Team News
With them having already qualified Hungary coach Bernd Storck could shuffle his squad around and get minutes into those he might need later in the tournament. Attila Fiola has an ankle injury so he is unlikely to be risked. There are four Hungarians on a yellow card so they may not be risked.
Raphael Guerreiro and Andre Gomes have been nursing niggling muscle injuries and they will be assessed ahead of this game. This might be the time to start with Bayern Munich youngster Renato Sanches in the hope he can open this Hungary side up.
Head to Head
This isn’t a good fixture for the Hungarians. The two nations have played on 10 occasions and Hungary are yet to win one. Portugal have won seven of those past battles and there have been three draws.
The Portuguese have won the last four matches and have scored three or more goals in three of them. A repeat of that here would very much be the order of the day.
Betting
I guess based on what we’ve seen in this round of matches so far the question we need to ask ourselves is just how adventurous are Hungary going to be in this match. We’ve already seen Switzerland and Slovakia camp in and take results needed to qualify and while Hungary have already qualified their next match would be significantly easier were they to avoid defeat.
For me this match is all about Portugal. If they can find the back of the net early they will take a great deal of confidence and they could open up a very wide winning margin. I think they will win this match but their lack of goals in the tournament so far does concern me with regards to backing a handicap.
I’ve a feeling that Hungary might have to score in order to stay close here but I’m not so sure they will especially if like Slovakia and others before them their mission here is all about keeping things tight and not losing. Portugal haven’t been great so far in the tournament but crunch time has arrived now and so I’ll back them to deliver the win they desperately need and to do it without conceding.
Tips
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