Football

Portugal vs Morocco Predicted lineups: Will Ronaldo return to the starting eleven?

Portugal vs Morocco Predicted lineups: Will Ronaldo return to the starting eleven?

Every World Cup has a surprise package and this years is Morocco. The African side have defied all odds to go unbeaten in the competition thus far and overcame a well-fancied Spanish side via a penalty shootout to reach the quarter-finals of the competition. 

Waiting for them is a Portugal side that has been one of the best to watch throughout the tournament. With a plethora of attacking players, including Bruno Fernandes, Bernado Silva and Joao Felix, they have proven to be too good for every side they have come up against so far. 

The winners of the game will face off against the winners of Saturday’s later game between England and France in what will be a mouthwatering semi-final next Wednesday night. 

Team news

Portugal

Arguably the biggest news of the tournament so far came via Fernando Santos’ decision to leave Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for their quarter-final game against Switzerland. The 37-year-old striker has been in the news a lot this season due to his unhappiness with being placed on the bench for his club side, Manchester United. 

The decision taken by Santos caused quite a stir, particularly as it seems to have come as a direct result of Ronaldo’s petulant reaction to being substituted in the final group game against South Korea. 

Santos has a huge decision to make ahead of this one. Does he reinstate his captain to the starting line up or does he continue to go with Goncalo Ramos who marked his World Cup debut with a sensational hat trick? 

Aside from the central striker position, the rest of the Portugal side picks itself especially after their marvelous performance last time out. Danilo Pereira and Nuno Mendes will sit this one, and the rest of the tournament, out after picking up serious injuries earlier in the competition. Both players have now left the Portugal World Cup camp in Qatar. 

ziyech

Morocco

Morocco have enjoyed great success throughout the tournament with their defence-first strategy. They have also squashed the theory that to be defensively sound you need to play five defenders after enjoying great success with a back four. 

The back four of Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss and Mazraoi have started every game throughout the tournament but that might all chance here. Morocco boss, Walid Regragui is sweating on the fitness of Nayef Aguered while Romain Saiss played out the final minutes of the game against Spain with a strapping on his leg.  Midfield anchor, Amrabat, is also nursing an injury. 

Given the magnitude of the fixture, all three are expected to play even if they aren’t 100% fit. That in itself, though, will give encouragement to the Portuguese midfield and attack. At the other end of the pitch, Boufal and Ziyech will look to carry on their sparkling form. Both wide men have been tremendous on the counter-attack all tournament and you’d think they are the two most likely candidates to grab a goal for their side in this one.

Predicted lineups

Morocco

Bounou, Hakimi, Saiss, Aguerd, Mazraoui, Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah, Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal

Portugal

Costa, Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro, B. Silva, Carvalho, Otavio, Fernandes, Ramos, Felix


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