The second set of matches at Euro2016 concludes with the match between Portugal vs Austria in Group F of the tournament and for Austria the stakes are pretty high although that isn’t to say that it is not for Portugal either.
Neither side won their first match so whoever loses in Paris will be staring down the barrel of the first flight home but on the flip side of that a win put whoever it is who claims it in a really good position to make it through.
On the face of it you could say Portugal laboured to a 1-1 draw against Iceland but that wouldn’t be doing the Icelanders credit. They snuffed out the threat that Portugal posed in that game. Yes Portugal were probably a bit casual at times and they won’t make that mistake again but they’ll be encouraged by the fact they didn’t lose.
Not winning wasn’t good but they have plenty to work on and build on. They are experienced enough as a nation to know that the trick to these things is peaking at the right time and that isn’t the opening match of the event so I don’t think they’ll be too concerned although they’ll recognise the need to improve.
Key Man
I can’t really change from Cristiano Ronaldo here. I’m not completely convinced Ronaldo was fully fit in the first match but his fitness should be coming back with each game and as such I expect his influence in the tournament to grow off the back of that. I would be surprised if he doesn’t make a significant impression here.
Austria went into the tournament as the talked up side and fell flat on their faces in the opening match but it could have been so different if they had taken their chances. They could have been ahead inside the first 30 seconds but they never converted any opportunities and paid the ultimate price for it.
That defeat leaves them up against it to make it through now but they need to put that behind them and continue how they set up but just make sure when the chances come along in this match that they bury them and don’t allow opponents to smash and grab.
Key Man
David Alaba was clearly the man the Austrians looked up to in their first match. You could tell he was the Bayern Munich player in the bunch and he can be the man to lead them up the pitch into the dangerous areas here. He might even sneak a valuable goal too.
Team News
Portugal certainly have plenty of options if they want to change things around. Renato Sanches, Ricardo Quaresma, Jose Fonte and William Carvalho could all expect to be in the side from the off but none of them started the first game.
Austria will be without Aleksandr Dragovic who is suspended after his red card in the first game. That could mean that Tottenham’s Kevin Wimmer comes into the side after he was surprisingly left out against Hungary. Zlatko Junuzovic picked up an injury in that game and he’s a major doubt.
Head to Head
Of the 10 matches these two nations have played in the past Portugal have only come out on the winning side on two of them with Austria victors on three occasions. There have also been five draws. Portugal are undefeated in the last four between the two although three of them have been drawn. Austria last beat Portugal in 1979.
Betting
Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t do himself any favours when he slagged off Iceland’s defensive style so all eyes will be on him here to see if Austria’s less defensive style meets with his approval. The best way to shut people up now is to score goals and that is what I’m banking on him doing.
As far as the match is concerned Portugal are far too short to me based on what they showed against both England in a friendly in the lead up to this tournament and against Iceland in their first match. I like Austria as a side but I’m scared to back them after the Hungary debacle.
That’s fine though because this looks like a match which will be full of attacking play. Both sides like to get the ball down, get it out wide and get crossed in for players to score goals so I think this match will be quite a good watch.
I’ve anticipated goals in this group all along and I certainly think we’re going to get some here. Both have to go for it now as a draw doesn’t really do either any good so I’m going to take over 2.5 goals at what is a pretty juicy price given the way the match is set up.
Tips
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