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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 a firepower undeniable that leaves the series open and without favor seeking the qualifier for the quarter-finals.
The two selections overcame the group stage without defeats and in the 16 round duel they will open a menu of attractive duels.
The Atlético de Madrid Central will face Diego Godín with the striker of Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo a duel with 28 chapters already in the Spanish League that continues to generate morbid.
But, as if that were not enough, Cristiano Ronaldo has another candidate to steal the stage Barcelona striker Luis Suárez who signed two goals on the Russian territory.
Both are the historical markers of their teams.
] [1 9459003] Cristiano Ronaldo scored four goals and wasted a penalty in the group stage although he also received a yellow card, so he adds another and if Portugal advance, the quarterfinal match will be lost. [19659002] Celeste won all three games and maintained their unbeaten record: defeated in Egypt and Saudi Arabia for the same 1-0 win, and defeated hosts 3-0.
The Selecção das Quinas debuted with a 3-3 pyrotechnic player with Spain defeating Morocco 1-0 and sealed a 1-1 draw against L & # 39; Iran.
However, these teams came up with different faces than the knockout stages.
Fernando Santos suffered unsuspected from not being sidelined in the last breath. On the other hand, the pupils of Oscar Washington Tabárez made a party at the expense of Russia.
The Uruguay will try to maintain the good tone of the first phase and will extend the series which makes it, in light of the antecedents, a complicated opponent for Portugal, which n '# 39; could not win in the only two historic matches: two friendlies in 1966 and 1972, which ended with 3-0 in Lisbon and 1-1 in Rio de Janeiro,
. 39; Uruguay a reliable team: the whole 'Maestro & # 39; Óscar Tábarez earned his first victory in 48 years in a first World Cup match. 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 goalkeeper Fernando Muslera surpbaded the Uruguayan record of presence in a World Cup with the legendary goalkeeper Ladislao Mazurkiewicz.
The Galatasaray goalkeeper scored 14 duels and will increase against Portugal.
All these documents will not help if the men of Tabárez do not succeed in eliminating Portugal and advancing to the quarterfinals, in which they would have a comfortable meeting without displacements to Nizhny Novgorod before France or Argentina
The "Maestro" who could face his last World Cup at age 71, wants to extend his stay in Russia and, at least , equaling his best record: The semifinals of South Africa 2010.
To do this he must form a team that, with the exception of the defender's doubt José María Giménez is complete and without injury. The central defender was unable to face Russia in the last match because of muscle problems and he received a medical discharge on Thursday.
If Tabárez deems it useful he can count on his player. If not, align Sebastián Coates with Diego Godín.
The coach still has doubts in a few positions. All are 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.
The eighth step is not a new experience for Celeste in the present 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 only stopped in the semi-final against Holland.
In Brazil 2014, without Suarez due to his expulsion to bite Italian Giorgio Chiellini, Celeste fell to Colombia 2-0.
The Lusos beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the 2006 edition of Germany, and fell by 1-0 to Spain in South Africa 2010.
Probable waiting lines:
Uruguay: Fernando Muslera; Guillermo Varela, Diego Godin, Jose María Giménez, Martin Cáceres; Nahitan Nández, Matías Vecino, Rodrigo Bentancur, Cristian & # 39; Onion & # 39; Rodríguez; Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani
Coach: Oscar Washington Tabárez
Portugal: Rui Patricio; Raphael Guerreiro, Pepe, José Fonte, Cedric; Adrien Silva, William Carvalho; Bruno Fernandes or Ricardo Quaresma; Joao Moutinho; André Silva or Goncalo Guedes and Cristiano Ronaldo
Coach: Fernando Santos
Referee: César Ramos (México).
Address: ] Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi.
Time: 13h00 m. The Colombian time.
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