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Even though Portugal hasn't technically wrapped up its spot in the knockout rounds of the Confederations Cup, it would take multiple acts of the football gods to prevent it from getting there. A Seleccao haven't been great in Russia, but assuming they finish the job against New Zealand, they'll have gotten out of a stingy group with seven of a possible nine points.
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Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
New Zealand +2000
Portugal -1100
Draw +1000
Over/Under 3.5
Odds Analysis
Clearly, this isn't going to end up being much of a contest. New Zealand has been outdone by each of its first two competitors, and this is the toughest of the three matches in Group A. Unfortunately for the Kiwis, it comes at a time Portugal needs at least a point to ensure progression to the next stage.
That's why the Portuguese are favored by 2.5-goals on the Asian Handicap. 3-0 is the most likely score line according to the oddsmakers, as the total is set at 3.5.
How They Got Here
Even though New Zealand doesn't have a point yet and is likely to leave Russia without one, it hasn't shown itself poorly on a big stage against teams that are clearly superior to it. The Kiwis were actually ahead of Mexico for a dozen minutes before blowing the lead and ultimately the whole match to officially be eliminated from the competition. Furthermore, their undoing against Russia was really their own defending more than anything the host nation did to them. That has to be considered a victory in and of itself.
Still, the ultimately quality of New Zealand's soccer program is clearly lacking. Whereas there have been prime finishes from both Mexico and Russia, the Kiwis seem to always be a tad late or a tad slow or a tad too small or a tad too weak to get the job done in the finishing areas. Opportunities have been there thanks to respectable technical play, but in the end, the defense has stuck the same one goal behind its own keeper as its offense has put past the opposition.
Portugal hasn't necessarily been stronger than Mexico, but at least it knows that it's into the knockout rounds so long as it doesn't screw the pooch here.
A Seleccao are what they are. They're Cristiano Ronaldo's team, and at times, it feels like everyone else is just watching him excel against the other 11 men on the pitch. That was the case against Russia when CR7's brilliant header silenced the entire nation in which the Confederations Cup is hosted. It was the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Russia.
The good news though, is that Portugal at least saw the lead out. A Seleccao blew two leads against Mexico, one at 1-0 and one at 2-1, and the argument could be made they were fortunate to get a point from that affair. At least this time, they held on tight against the hosts in what could have been a far more disastrous affair.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Even though the odds are stacked against them, we sort of fancy the Kiwis to score a goal in this match. This team has had too much good lead up to not manage to find something positive to take home with it.
Of course, that won't end up being a point. We just can't see how Portugal ends up not winning this fixture. This one might be a little tight to the Asian Handicap for a while, but we'd guess New Zealand draws final blood to assure a cover against that 2.5-goal spread.
Confederations Cup Odds: Portugal 2, New Zealand 1
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