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FIFA World Cup 2018 team analysis: Portugal's rigid system is boring, but works

FIFA World Cup 2018 team analysis: Portugal have a working system which they used to good effect in Euro 2016, but ageing defence will let them down in Russia.

(From left) Cristiano Ronaldo, Andre Silva and Bernardo Silva will lead the charge for Portugal at the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia

FIFA World Cup fixtures | Groups and points table

Other teams in Group B: Spain | Iran | Morocco | Group B analysis


Country: Portugal

Placed in Group B also featuring Spain, Iran and Morocco

Fixtures: Portugal vs Spain, June 15, at 11.30 pm IST (Sochi)

Portugal vs Morocco, June 20, at 5.30 pm IST (Moscow Luzhniki)

Portugal vs Iran, June 25, at 11.30 pm IST (Saransk)

FIFA ranking: 4

Previous World Cup: 2014 (eliminated from Group G)

Best finish: Third-place in 1966

Star players: Cristiano Ronaldo (striker for Real Madrid), Bernardo Silva (midfielder for Manchester City), Andre Silva (striker for AC Milan), Pepe (defender for Besiktas)

Coach: Fernando Santos


Football, they say, is a team game and one man alone cannot strike rich everytime. For Portugal, who have the world's best player - Cristiano Ronaldo - in their midst, stardom isn't a bane. Despite the presence of Ronaldo, who will obviously lead their attack, Portugal play a rigid team game that protects their defence. Pepe and Bruno Alves, the two central defenders expected to start for Portugal, are 35 and 36 respectively and their next prospect Ruben Dias is 21 and inexperienced. The entire system coach Fernando Santos has designed ensures that the back four remain compact throughout the game. While Pepe and Alves are expected to win the aerial battles, the full-backs, Cedric Soares and Raphael Guerreiro will rush back to ward away pacey opposition attackers.

Joao Moutinho and William Carvalho will play as defensive midfielders, giving space for Bernardo Silva and Ricardo Quaresma to run up and down the flanks.

Portugal's attacking philosophy is simple. It starts from the back four. The defenders wait around and win the ball and then the counter-attack starts. The creative Silva and experienced Quaresma will float in crosses and expect the striker duo of Ronaldo and Andre Silva to trick their markers, get into space and tuck the ball in. This tried and tested method has been in play throughout the World Cup qualifying and it sure as hell won't be different in Russia.

This kind of football is boring to watch and frustrating for other teams but it works. The key to defeating Portugal is to somehow outwit the two central defenders Pepe and Alves. While Iran and Morocco will find it hard in the group stages, Spain, with Diego Costa, could expose them. And that will tell the other teams how to defeat Portugal.

Prediction: Portugal are the Euro 2016 champions but going all the way with those central defenders will be difficult. They will progress in the Round of 16 and if they run into Uruguay from Group A there, that could be the end of the World Cup for them.


Team-by-team analysis:

France</a> | <a class=Denmark | Australia | Peru" title="France | Denmark | Australia | Peru" />France | Denmark | Australia | Peru

Argentina</a> | <a class=Iceland | Croatia | Nigeria" title="Argentina | Iceland | Croatia | Nigeria" />Argentina | Iceland | Croatia | Nigeria

Brazil</a> | <a class=Costa Rica | Switzerland | Serbia" title="Brazil | Costa Rica | Switzerland | Serbia" />Brazil | Costa Rica | Switzerland | Serbia

Germany</a> | <a class=Sweden | Mexico | South Korea" title="Germany | Sweden | Mexico | South Korea" />Germany | Sweden | Mexico | South Korea

Belgium</a> | <a class=Panama | England | Tunisia" title="Belgium | Panama | England | Tunisia" />Belgium | Panama | England | Tunisia

Poland</a> | <a class=Japan | Colombia | Senegal" title="Poland | Japan | Colombia | Senegal" />Poland | Japan | Colombia | Senegal

Group A</a> | <a class=C | D | E | F | G | H" title="Group A | C | D | E | F | G | H" />Group A | C | D | E | F | G | H

Story first published: Friday, June 15, 2018, 23:41 [IST]
Other articles published on Jun 15, 2018