Portugal vs Uzbekistan Preview, Predicted Lineups, Betting Tips, New Customer Offer
Tom McGarry
Best Bets:
Over 2.5 Portugal goals @ 8/11
Cristiano Ronaldo over 4.5 shots @4/11
*all odds correct at the time of writing
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Portugal v Uzbekistan preview: Wounded Portuguese could take out frustrations on White Wolves
By Tom McGarry
Portugal lacked a creative spark in their World Cup opener against DR Congo but they are expected to cut loose when they return to Houston to take on Uzbekistan in their second match in Group K.
Everything was going swimmingly for Roberto Martinez's side in the early stages of their opener. Joao Neves gave Portugal the lead after just six minutes and they dominated the ball. However, Neves's goal proved to be Portugal's sole shot on target as DR Congo battled their way back into the game and secured a deserved 1-1 draw.
Cristiano Ronaldo, playing at his record-equalling sixth World Cup, cut a frustrated figure and the debate about how long Martinez should persevere with the 41-year-old continues to rumble on. Martinez certainly has options if he does decide to leave Ronaldo on the bench. Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto started either side of Portugal's record goalscorer against DR Congo, Rafael Leao, Francisco Conceicao and Goncalo Ramos all came off the bench, and Joao Felix did not even get on the pitch.
Striking the right balance will be key for Martinez, who will expect his side to be far more clinical against Uzbekistan, who conceded three goals to Colombia on their World Cup debut. Portugal could not stop scoring in qualifying, netting 20 in six games including nine against Armenia.
And in their three warm-up games for the finals the Euro 2016 winners scored twice in friendly victories over Chile, Nigeria and World Cup co-hosts USA. Six members of Martinez's squad have scored ten or more international goals, and with Neves, Vitinha and assist king Bruno Fernandes, fresh from his record-breaking season for Manchester United, pulling the strings in behind, it should be only a matter of time before Portugal's attack clicks into gear.
Uzbekistan will certainly be wary of a Portugal backlash. The White Wolves brought in World Cup-winning defender Fabio Cannavaro, who lifted the trophy with Italy in 2006, as their head coach ahead of the tournament but they did not look defensively secure against Colombia, who also hit the post in a 3-1 success. Uzbekistan have conceded two or more goals in each of their last three internationals and this will be just the second time they have faced a European nation in four years - the other ended in a 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the build-up to the tournament.
With Portugal licking their wounds and intent on proving a point, Cannavaro's men could be in for a tough 90 minutes and goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov could be extremely busy. Despite growing talk about whether he justifies his place in the team, Ronaldo will surely start again as he aims to score at a sixth World Cup and end a ten-match goalless run at major tournaments.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United superstar had three of his side's seven efforts on goal against DR Congo, while he had 31 shots in just five appearances during qualifying. Back him to have at least five in Houston. Ronaldo has had a habit of proving the naysayers wrong during his career and the veteran marksman will be desperate to show that there is life in the old dog yet.
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Portugal vs Uzbekistan Predictions Line-ups
Portugal (4-2-3-1): Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Tomás Araújo, Rúben Dias, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha; Bernardo Silva, Fernandes, Rafael Leão; Ronaldo
Uzbekistan (3-4-3): U. Yusupov; A. Khusanov, R. Ashurmatov, A. Abdullaev; B. Karimov, O. Shukurov, A. Mozgovoy, F. Sayfiev; A. Fayzullayev, E. Shomurodov, O. Urunov
Portugal vs Uzbekistan Player Picks
Shots: Cristiano Ronaldo over 4.5 shots @7/20 - Cristiano Ronaldo had three shots in Portugal's opening match and averaged more than six efforts per game in qualifying
Shots On Target: Eldor Shomurodov over 0.5 shots on target @6/5 - Eldor Shomurodov managed at least one shot on target in six of his final seven games of the domestic season and also worked Colombia's goalkeeper last week
Player Carded: Bernardo Silva to be shown a card @21/4 - Bernardo Silva was booked against DR Congo and received 14 yellow cards and a red during for Manchester City this season
Assists: Joao Cancelo to register an assist @27/10 - No player produced more assists for Portugal in qualifying than Joao Cancelo, who put six crosses into the box against DR Congo
Fouls Committed: Bekhruz Karimov over 1.5 fouls @27/25 - Teenage right-back Bekhruz Karimov gave away three fouls against Colombia and may be left exposed by Portugal's pacy wide players
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Portugal vs Uzbekistan Bet Builders
Bet builder 1 - 45/1
Bekhruz Karimov over 1.5 fouls - Karimov conceded three fouls against Colombia and could struggle against Portugal's pacy wide players
Both teams to score - Portugal have conceded in five of their last six competitive internationals
Eldor Shomurodov over 0.5 shots on target - Shomurodov has had at least one shot on target in seven of his last eight matches
Bernardo Silva to be shown a card - Silva picked up 14 yellows and a red for Man City this season and was booked against DR Congo
Bet builder 2 - 6/1
Portugal to win - Portugal were disappointing against DR Congo but had won three in a row prior to that 1-1 draw
Over 2.5 Portugal goals - Portugal scored 20 goals in six qualifying games and found the net twice in all of their three warm-up games
Joao Cancelo to register an assist - The Portugal full-back completed six crosses against DR Congo and his delivery from wide areas is a major asset
Cristiano Ronaldo over 3.5 shots - Ronaldo had three of Portugal's seven shots against DR Congo and averaged over six efforts per game in qualifying
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