UEFA Euro 2024 Pre-Quarter
July 2, 2024 - Indian Date
Arena AufSchalke
MATCH TIMES
India
12:30 AM
UAE
11:00 PM
Saudi Arabia
10:00 PM
FULL TIME
Portugal possible starting lineup: Costa; Cancelo, Pepe, Dias, Mendes; Vitinha, Palhinha, Fernandes; B. Silva, Ronaldo, Leao
Slovenia possible starting lineup: Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Balkovec; Stojanovic, Elsnik, Gnezda Cerin, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko
Match Preview
Portugal will look to bounce back and assert their championship credentials when they face Slovenia in the Euro 2024 last-16 match in Frankfurt. Portugal's group stage ended on a sour note with a surprising defeat to Georgia, despite having already secured their place in the knockout stage. This loss, marked by defensive errors from Antonio Silva, ended Portugal's 12-match competitive win streak.
Roberto Martinez, Portugal's head coach, rested key players like Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, and Pepe during the loss to Georgia. Despite this setback, Portugal remains one of the tournament's favorites due to their impressive statistics in possession, goal attempts, and defensive solidity throughout the group stage. They have a history of resilience, having not lost back-to-back competitive games since Euro 2008.
Portugal, champions in 2016, have had mixed results in knockout stages since then, losing three out of four knockout games at Euros or World Cups. They previously faced Slovenia in a friendly this year, winning 2-0.
Slovenia, on the other hand, is experiencing their first knockout match at a major tournament. They progressed to the last 16 by holding England to a goalless draw, extending their unbeaten streak to nine matches. Slovenia's journey has been characterized by solid defensive performances and resilience, having also drawn with Denmark and Serbia.
Slovenia's tactical approach, which has seen them average only 32% possession, has been effective in securing crucial points. Key players for Slovenia include captain Jan Oblak and young striker Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenians have shown they can be a threat, despite their underdog status, with a strong defensive record and the ability to score, having only failed to do so once in their last 14 matches.
Key Matchups:
1. Portugal's Attack vs. Slovenia's Defense: Portugal will rely on their attacking talents like Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Bernardo Silva to break down Slovenia's sturdy defense, anchored by Jan Oblak.
2. Slovenia's Counterattacks: Slovenia will likely adopt a counter-attacking strategy, utilizing Benjamin Sesko's pace and finishing ability to exploit any defensive lapses from Portugal.
3. Midfield Battle: Portugal's midfield, led by the creative and dynamic Bruno Fernandes, will be crucial in controlling the game and breaking down Slovenia's defensive setup.
This clash will test Portugal's ability to recover from their unexpected loss and showcase their championship potential, while Slovenia will aim to continue their historic run with a solid defensive performance and opportunistic counterattacks.
luck fets
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