Uruguay Vs. Portugal – Before the match – June 30, 2018

Uruguay and Portugal meet on Saturday in Sochi with opposing sentiments at the end of the group stage of the World Cup in Russia, without dazzling football, but with undeniable firepower that leaves the open series and no favorites in the search

Both teams have overcome the group stage without defeat and in the duel of the round of 16, they will open a menu of attractive duels.

The head coach of Atlético de Madrid Diego Godín will face each other. Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo, a duel with 28 chapters already in the Spanish league that continues to generate morbidity

But, as if that was not enough, Cristiano Ronaldo has another candidate to steal the scene, Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, who has signed two goals on Russian territory

Both are the historical markers of their teams.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored four goals and wasted a penalty in the group stage, although he also received a yellow card, if you add another and if Portugal advances you will lose the match. quarterfinal.

Celeste won all three matches and maintained her unbeaten record: he beat Egypt and Saudi Arabia. the same 1-0, and defeated hosts 3-0

The Selecção das Quinas debuted with a 3-3 pyrotechnic with Spain, defeated Morocco 1-0 and sealed a draw 1 -1 with Iran. 19659002] However, these formations arrived with different faces in the round of 16.

Fernando Santos suffered unexpectedly so as not to be left out in the last breath. On the other hand, the students of Oscar Washington Tabárez feast at the expense of Russia.

Uruguay will try to maintain the good tone of the first phase and extend the series that makes it, given the background, a tough opponent to Portugal, which has not not able to win in the only two historical clashes: two friendlies in 1966 and 1972, which ended 3-0 in Lisbon and 1-1 in Rio de Janeiro, respectively.

Their number makes Uruguay a reliable team: the set of "Maestro & # 39; Óscar Tábarez made his first victory in 48 years in a first match of a World Cup. In addition, he maintained his goal to zero in the three games of the group stage, something unprecedented in the box charrúa.

Also, for the third time in a row, has reached the last 16. He had it with a single yellow card, which Uruguay has not done since Mexico 1970; and the arquero Fernando Muslera has surpbaded the Uruguayan record of presences in a World Cup that had the legendary archer Ladislao Mazurkiewicz

The archer of Galatasaray, left the mark in 14 duels and l & # 39; Will rise against Portugal.

All these records will be useless if the men of Tabárez fail to eliminate Portugal and to advance to the quarter-finals, in which they would have a comfortable encounter without displacements in Nizhny Novgorod against France or Argentina .

The "Maestro", who with 71 years could be before his last World Cup, wants to extend his stay in Russia and, at least, equal his best record: the semifinals of South Africa 2010

For this he must make a team, except the doubt of the defender José María Giménez, is complete and without injuries. The central defender could not face Russia in the last match due to muscle problems and on Thursday he received a medical discharge.

If Tabárez judges it appropriate, he can count on his player. Otherwise, he will line Sebastián Coates with Diego Godín

The coach still has doubts in a few positions. Everything is clear except the extremes.

He never repeated in all three games. In the first they played Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Nahitan Nández; in the second, two other veterans: Carlos Sánchez and Cristian & # 39; Cebolla & # 39; Rodríguez; and in the third, Diego Laxalt and again Nández, who made long wings in a system with three defenses and five media with Torreira in the center with Rodrigo Bentancur and Matías Vecino.

Whatever system and players use, Uruguay will be a very uncomfortable opponent for Portugal. All his players have gone less and less and have dispelled doubts in his three games.

He won Egypt with a bad game and a Giménez header at the last minute. Sent to Saudi Arabia with a goal from Luis Suarez and creative doubts. And against Russia, beaten by 3-0 with a football more happy that wants to extend against Portugal to continue in the World Cup.

Step Eighth is not a new experience for Celeste in the current century. In South Africa, 2010 defeated South Korea 2-1 with a pair of Luis Suárez and went on to win a shootout against Ghana. He stopped only in the semifinal against Holland