Day 17: France-Argentina, Uruguay-Portugal.

Will take a Ronaldo special to beat this defense. Just going to be difficult
 
Mezza or Guedes as worst player of the tournament.
 
Cavani and Suarez are basically perfect tournament strikers. Have top level quality, but more importantly both will run into the ground all game.
 
Portugal are going to struggle here. They don’t look like creating much and any half chance is being snuffed out by great defending.
 
So in that situation where he knocked the ball against his own arm where the foul was given, you can bet bet your bottom dollar it would be ruled ball to hand if it was a defender in his own box.
 
It still baffles me that Joao Mario starts for Portugal. Nani's still twice the player he is, even when he's supposedly had a poor season.

B. Silva's started very well so far.
 
Ronaldo never scored against the Gódin/Jimenez pairing.

On the other hand I still think Portugal are clear favourites. Like I said on another thread, Uruguay is atrocious on Saturdays, clearly the worst week-day for them. They lost 8 of their last 10 games played on a Saturday. Stats don't lie.
 
Portugals midfield pass far too slow and don't play any through balls. All risk free passing
 
Portugals midfield pass far too slow and don't play any through balls. All risk free passing

Puzzling that they didn't bring Neves, he has had a stormer of a season. Admittedly it was in the Championship, but most of these midfield options belong there as well.
 
Not conceding since 2017 is one thing but how many games have Uruguay played and who against?

It's a great stat though. Think Portugal are genuinely gonna struggle to get back into this and they're never gonna score two unless Ronaldo pulls off a miracle.
 
After seeing that POR wall at the free kick expect more diving from Suarez in dangerous positions.

You think it needs a shoddy wall to get Suarez to dive? He does that for free you know. Part and parcel of his CuntVitae
 
Be very surprised if Portugal don't get chances. They can shake it up with Gelson Martins and Queresma on the bench, and Andre Silva as an extra striker.