EURO 2020 - R16 : Belgium vs Portugal

Lukaku vs Ronaldo.

This one should be good.

I suspect Portugal will let Belgium have the ball and try and break down the 4411.

Belgium could cause similar problems Germany did with their wingbacks, Portugal surely would figured out the issues there tactically.

Bruno looked better in the 18 minutes he played than he did the previous 180 minutes, but tactically it may be better to leave him out again.

Jota has been quite poor as well. I would honestly try Felix instead of him. But can't see many changes. I suspect it will be the same team as against France.

RealGunner wrote:Jota has been quite poor as well. I would honestly try Felix instead of him. But can't see many changes. I suspect it will be the same team as against France.

I can see Palinha starting instead of Moutinho.

Yeah exactly, it would be sensible for Portugal to wait for Belgium to come in since it will be difficult to take the ball away from them in the middle and exposing their defence without their midfield to aid them against a team with Belgium's technical and attacking prowess would be suicide. Itll be interesting tho, litterally about a 50-50 here maybe Belgiums chances edge Portual slightly. Keeping Ronaldo in check is the key for Belgium who will no doubt try to play keepball as long as possible so they give Ronaldo the most minumum chance to influence the game.

No doubt the main course of R. of 16

Portugal are slight favourites. They've got the big game mentaliy and Ronaldo. Belgium will surely have more of the ball, don't think it'll be enough though.

Not sure Portugal have the defensive solidarity of Euro 2016. For me, this was the key to their success in that tournament and I am not seeing the same level of resistance. Which is strange because the changes in the line up should have improved even in that aspect with Ruben Dias in for Fonte for example.

KDB is rounding into form, Lukaku can ragdoll anyone and seems more clinical than ever and Carrasco and little Hazard can do similar damage to Gosens and Kimmich have done. Semedo is questionable at the best of times, but him getting overloaded this consistently is worrying.

Of course Portugal have a ton of quality in the front, but outside some questionable penalties, I wouldnt say they have been particularly efficient there either.

They have to improve, thats for sure. But I think we are giving it a 50-50 chance in this game not on performance so far, but on theory of what Portugal should/could do.

let's not kid ourselves Portugal bullshitted their way to winning in 2016, and they are still a bullshitting-their-way kind of team. Their counter attack will always be a threat though with the players they have up front.
The game will come down to if Belgium takes their chances in order to finish off and outscore Portugal.

BEL XI: Courtois; Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Tielemans; T.Hazard; Lukaku, E.Hazard.

#POR XI: Rui Patricio; Dalot, Dias, Pepe, Guerreiro; Palhinha, Sanches, Moutinho; B. Silva, Ronaldo, Jota.

Perhaps it's better Portugal than Belgium for Italy, but I don't care,tthe heart can not be controlled.

Lukaku is the greatest human being so I support Lukaku, I'm a simple person

Robespierre wrote:Perhaps it's better Portugal than Belgium for Italy, but I don't care,tthe heart can not be controlled.

Lukaku is the greatest human being so I support Lukaku, I'm a simple person

Same but Ronaldo.

Looks like Santos is taking criticism from media/fans to heart. Dropped Semedo. Starting Palinha. No more William and Danilo. The opposite of Southgate.

M99 wrote:Looks like Santos is taking criticism from media/fans to heart. Dropped Semedo. Starting Palinha. No more William and Danilo. The opposite of Southgate.

I don't think the media were the reason. He gave them the chance, they didn't deliver.

Belgium (3-4-2-1) Courtois; Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Meunier, Tielemans, Witsel, T Hazard; De Bruyne, E Hazard; Lukaku.
Substitutes: Mignolet, Sels, Boyata, Carrasco, Mertens, Denayer, Dendoncker, Benteke, Batshuayi, Trossard, Doku, Praet.

Portugal (4-3-3) Rui Patricio; Dalot, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Guerreiro; Joao Moutinho, Joao Palhinha, Renato Sanches; Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Diogo Jota.
Substitutes: Lopes, Rui Silva, Nelson Semedo, Fonte, Andre Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Danilo, Ruben Neves, Pedro Goncalves, Joao Felix, Sergio Oliveira, Nuno Mendes.

Referee Felix Brych (Germany).

RENATO starting

first proper game of this tournament, finally I can get involved

Hazard back fit in the team, that's a massive boost for Belgium

talking about Thorgan of course

3 BVB players in the Belguim starting 11, that's the largest block among all isn't it

Jota being wasteful again.

what happened to William Carvalho? Midfield part of the Portugal squad looks weak

and is Guimaraes from Lyon not Portuguese?

Hapless_Hans wrote:what happened to William Carvalho? Midfield part of the Portugal squad looks weak

and is Guimaraes from Lyon not Portuguese?

Don't know what's going on with William Carvalho, but he was destroyed by Germany and Portugal were heavily criticized when they played William and Danilo together. Being too defensive and didn't actually defend well. And Bruno didn't influence the games much when he played. This midfield is actually the one preferred by their fans. Renato who performed well of the bench in the first two games and bringing much needed drive. Moutinho who can distribute the ball around. And Palhinha, a fan favorite DM just winning the Portuguese League with Sporting CP. Bruno Guimaraes is Brazilian

Portugal's mid is balanced. They don't commit too many people to attack with a cautious approach. I wish Löw would go about K.O. games that way.

Superstone Mariomintsch wrote:

Hapless_Hans wrote:what happened to William Carvalho? Midfield part of the Portugal squad looks weak

and is Guimaraes from Lyon not Portuguese?

Don't know what's going on with William Carvalho, but he was destroyed by Germany and Portugal were heavily criticized when they played William and Danilo together. Being too defensive and didn't actually defend well. And Bruno didn't influence the games much when he played. This midfield is actually the one preferred by their fans. Renato who performed well of the bench in the first two games and bringing much needed drive. Moutinho who can distribute the ball around. And Palhinha, a fan favorite DM just winning the Portuguese League with Sporting CP. Bruno Guimaraes is Brazilian

ah right. Thanks for the explanations. Ruben Neves on the bench too

Amazing what a complete trash player Eden Hazard has become

Haha yeah. But Palhinha has done well so far, De Bruyne also hasn't done anything. But that shirt pull was very blatant

Ufff, and Meunier just inspired by Quaresma there