2022 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 – Portugal vs Switzerland: Where To Watch, Live Streaming, Date, Timing, Squad, Lineups, Venue
Portugal are eyeing a quarterfinals berth here at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as they will first have to climb past the Alps when they face Switzerland in the Round of 16. Although the Cristiano Ronaldo-led team suffered a defeat in the penultimate group game against South Korea, they still notched up dominating wins against solid teams in Ghana and Uruguay in their opening games at the tournament. But this Switzerland game will arguably be the strongest test for the 2016 EURO champions till now.
On the other hand, Ronaldo has been unable to inspire his country at the tournament, having netted just one goal in three games. Moreover, after being substituted earlier in the game against South Korea, the 37-year-old free agent looked quite unhappy with coach Fernando Santos. Ronaldo will need to start firing in goals if Portugal are to go deep at his last ever FIFA World Cup finals. But Switzerland shouldn’t rejoice Ronaldo’s ailing form, since his teammates in Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix, Rafael Leao are all stepping up amidst their captain’s crisis.
Murat Yakin’s Switzerland is playing some exciting football at the tournament, and have suffered just one defeat so far, which came against Brazil in the group stages. However, the Swiss still gave the five-time world champions a run for their money as it took them 83 minutes to break the deadlock and find a winner. But Granit Xhaka and co made a stellar comeback against Serbia in the final group stage game, winning a heated game of goals galore.
This Switzerland team knows a thing or two about causing upsets in the last-16 of a major tournament, having knocked out world champions France at this stage at the EUROs last year. They will look for inspiration from that game and cause another shock to Portugal this time. Switzerland have never made it as far as the quarterfinals in their seven previous appearances at the tournament, as Murat Yakin, who himself represented the Swiss national team on 49 occasions will hope to change the narrative in Qatar.
2022 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 – Portugal vs Switzerland: Where To Watch, Live Streaming, Date, Timing, Squad, Lineups, Venue
The last-16 tie between Portugal and Switzerland at the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the Lusail Stadium on December 7. The kick-off will take place at 12:30 AM [IST].
| Date | Match | Time (IST) | Venue |
| 7 December 2022 | Portugal vs Switzerland | 12:30 AM | Lusail |
Portugal vs Switzerland – Squads
Portugal
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Patricio, Sa, Costa |
| Defenders | Pepe, Dias, Cancelo, Mendes, Dalot, Silva, Guerreiro, Pereira |
| Midfielders | Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, Carvalho, Mario, Fernandes, Neves, Palpinha, Nunes, Otavio |
| Attackers | Ronaldo, Felix, Leao, Horta, Ramos, Silva |
Predicted Line-up:
Costa; Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Cancelo; B. Silva, Neves, Carvalho; Fernandes; Felix, Ronaldo
Switzerland
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Sommer, Kobel, Kohn, Omlin |
| Defenders | Rodriguez, Schar, Akanji, Elvedi, Widmer, Comert |
| Midfielders | Shaqiri, Xhaka, Freuler, Zakaria, Sow, Steffen, Frei, Aebischer, Jashari, Fernandes, Rieder |
| Attackers | Seferovic, Embolo, Vargas, Okafor, Fassnacht |
Predicted Line-up:
Sommer; Widmer, Akanji, Schar, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas; Embolo
