The knockout stages are filled with extra tension this tournament for Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo as he seeks to win football’s biggest trophy with his country in what is likely to be his last World Cup ever.
His side will line up at the Lusail Stadium as the slight favorite against Switzerland in its round of 16 match, but the Portuguese have already suffered a surprise defeat in Qatar. Portugal seemed to be cruising through the group stages, defeating Ghana and Uruguay to confirm a spot in the knockout stages with a match to spare but succumbed to a shock defeat against South Korea in the last group stage match, after Hwang Hee-chan scored a 91st-minute winner off a Son Heung-min pass.
Can Spain avoid another upset? Like Portugal, Spain is entering its round of 16 match against Morocco immediately after a shock defeat to an Asian nation – a 2-1 loss to Japan – in the group stages. The two sides have played each other three times since 1961, but their rivalry stretches beyond football results and into their shared history which has often been marked by conflict.
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Switzerland vs. Portugal prediction: Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup danceThe Swiss National Team’s reputation is well known by this point. A well-organized outfit that plays at a level above the sum of its parts, the Rossocrociati have given plenty of elite teams fits i…
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Juventus CEO Denies Club Owes Cristiano Ronaldo Millions in BackpayThe European football club Juventus F.C. denied it owed Cristiano Ronaldo anything after a report claimed he would pursue legal action for an alleged £17 million he was owed.
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Majority of Portuguese Fans Want Cristiano Ronaldo Benched: SurveyRonaldo’s sluggish form has continued with Portugal in the World Cup, where his lone goal came on a penalty kick against Ghana. Apart from that, he’s largely been invisible with his overall play, and it appears that some Portuguese fans want a change.
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Cristiano Ronaldo will reportedly join Saudi club Al-Nassr for historic $210 million per seasonSoccer star Cristiano Ronaldo may play his next season with a Saudi Arabian club – for a record-setting salary for any athlete, according to a report from Madrid newspaper Marca.
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