Our football match prediction:
Portugal
Match Time & Date:
15/06/2018
19:00 GMT
Prediction: 1-1
Spain
All eyes will be on Olimpiyskiy Stadion when Portugal and Spain take on each other in the Group B derby. Portugal did well to win Euro 2016 title and they are now on a quest to prove their worth at the showpiece tournament in Russia. As always, a man to watch in Fernando Santos’s team will be Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the Champions League trophy with Real Madrid and he is likely to prove a handful for the opposition defenders. Spain, on the other hand, are considered one of main favourites to win the World Cup, but they will have to take each and every game at the tournament very seriously if they are to meet the goal. Diego Costa is likely to lead the line for La Roja against Portugal, but David Silva, Andres Iniesta and Isco will pose a big threat for the opposition back-line as well. Anyhow, seeing that Portugal look sharp at the back, we predict the two teams will share the spoils in Friday’s football match.
Highlighted Player (Ronaldo):
Cristiano Ronaldo is considered one of the world’s best football players. The Portuguese ace was born on 5 February, 1985 in Funchal, Madeira and he played for the likes of Andorinha, Nacional and Sporting during his youth career. CR7 made his Sporting debut in Primeira Liga on 7 October, 2002, scoring two goals in a 3-0 win over Moreirense. Manchester United scouts spotted him and one year later he joined the Old Trafford outfit. Ronaldo became the most expensive teenager in the history of the Premier League and he received the number 7 shirt. He quickly established himself as the team’s key player and it has to be noted that he won three consecutive Premier League trophies with the Red Devils (2006/2007, 2007/2008, 2008/2009). In 2008 he helped the Old Trafford outfit beat Chelsea in the Champions League final, scoring for Alex Ferguson’s troops in the regular time. Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2009 and he helped the Spanish giants with two Champions League trophies. In 2016 he won the European Championship trophy with Portugal. The Real Madrid ace has two Golden Ball awards (2013, 2014).
Highlighted Team (Spain):
Historically, Spain have been regarded as one of top sides on international stage, but they often struggled to live up to the billing. After reaching the semi-finals at the 1950 World Cup, La Furia Roja won the European Championship trophy on home soil in 1964, but little did they know that it would remain their only trophy for another 44 years. Following some disappointing showings, Spain finally returned to the biggest stage under Vicente Del Bosque, winning three straight trophies between 2008 and 2012, before crashing out in the group stage at the 2014 World Cup. La Furia Roja enjoyed plenty of success with their tiki-taka style of play, originally designed by Barcelona, with Vicente Del Bosque’s side packed with technically skilled players such as Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva. Strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa also had a major role to play in those successes, but when it comes to their famous predecessors, the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Michel, Emilio Butrageno, Raul Gonzalez, Fernando Morientes and Fernando Hierro should not be forgotten.
