2018 FIFA World Cup: Uruguay and Portugal Square off in Round of 16 Play

• Uruguay and Portugal kick off Round of 16 play at 2:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, June 30th
• Will Ronaldo continue to score in his race to win the Golden Boot?
• Will Uruguay’s backline continue to shut down its opponents with another clean sheet?

Uruguay is making its third straight trip to the Round of 16 in the World Cup. In 2014 it reached this stage and bowed out 2-0 to Colombia. In 2010 Uruguay went deeper into the tournament losing to Netherlands 3-2 in the Semi-Finals, before losing in the Third Place Match to Germany. Uruguay reached this year’s Round of 16 by virtue of a perfect 3-0-0 record finishing first in Group A.

Portugal has qualified for the past four World Cups but has had mixed results. In 2014 and 2002 it failed to make it out of the Group Stage. But in 2010 Portugal made it to the Round of 16, falling 1-0 to Spain. In 2006 Portugal made it all the way to the Semi-Finals but lost to 1-0 to France, before an eventual loss to Germany in the Third Place Match.

The Unstoppable Force vs the Immovable Object

At 33-years-old and participating in what may be his last World Cup, Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo has almost single-handedly carried Portugal into the Round of 16. In their three Group Stage matches, Portugal has a total of 32 shots, nine on target and five goals. Of those stats Ronaldo has 15 shots, seven on target and four goals.

Ronaldo is only the fourth player to score in four different World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018).

After a free-flowing 3-3 draw against Spain, the goals dried up for Portugal in its subsequent matches against Morocco and Iran. Against Morocco, Ronaldo put the Seleção das Quinas ahead in the 4′ minute which proved to be the game’s only goal. However, Portugal was out-possessed 55-45, and was outshot in both total shots and shots on target.

In Portugal’s final match against Iran, it controlled the game and got out in front through a Ricardo Quaresma goal right before half. Ronaldo missed a penalty awarded early in the second half and was moments away from taking first overall in  Group B, until Iran scored in the 93′ minute through a penalty of its own.

Ronaldo is lucky to be participating in this Round of 16 match as VAR was used for a possible contact to the face red card review, however he was only given a yellow.

Coming up against Uruguay, Portugal faces the only team in the tournament who has yet to concede a goal. La Celeste scored five goals and conceded none, in 1-0, 1-0 and 3-0 wins over Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

You could argue that as the 14th ranked nation in the world, these performances left a little more to be desired considering the Egyptians were the second-highest ranked team they had to face at 45th and they were without Mohamed Salah. In that match, Uruguay just snuck by with an 89′ minute winner.

In the match against Russia, Uruguay did strike early in the 10′ minute, but were aided by an own goal in the 23′ minute and a Russian red card in the 36′ minute.

Unspectacular? Probably. But that is how Uruguay plays. They rely on strong, physical, smothering defending, and wait until their stars up front can poach a goal. In strikers Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani they have one of the best strike pairings in the tournament. Both got on the scoresheet last match and Suárez has two goals overall.

Uruguay’s defense could be missing a key component though as centre-back José Giménez is a doubt with a thigh injury. He missed out on the Russia match as well.

World Cup Stats

Betting Advice

Pick: Draw +200 

Considering the strong defensive tendencies of each squad, seeing this match go past 90 minutes seems a likely result.  You could make this bet by either choosing the draw or through their “Match to go into Extra Time” prop which pays out a similar +200. For a little extra value they also offer a bet on “Match to go to Penalties” at +325.

Uruguay has yet to allow a goal and anyone who remembers the 2016 Euros, knows Portugal has no issues with sitting back and picking its spots. In that final Portugal beat France in the 109′ minute.

These are two dark horse teams and I expect a tight, cagey match with little between them.

Uruguay vs Portugal Odds