Group H is the Group of Life at the 2022 World Cup as every team has a conceivable chance to make it out. While Portugal is the odds-on favorite to win the group and thus has some of the lowest World Cup betting odds on the board, we have seen the Portuguese perform poorly in the Group Stage quite often in recent years. That gives hope to Ghana, Uruguay, and South Korea, and all three teams have had quite a bit of success on this stage in recent years.
Portugal Odds at the 2022 World Cup
Portugal Odds to Win the 2022 World Cup +1200
Portugal Odds to Win Group H -160
Portugal Odds to Qualify for the Round of 16 -595
The Portuguese were unable to win their World Cup qualification group. Portugal went 5-2-1 and their loss to Serbia in Lisbon meant that Serbia won the group and automatic qualification for Qatar. That sent Portugal into the playoff where it looked like they would have to get past 2020 Euro champions Italy in order to make the World Cup. However, North Macedonia did Portugal a huge favor by besting the Azzurri 1-0 in Palermo. Portugal had no trouble beating Turkey and then North Macedonia to claim a spot in Qatar.
Recent Form
We haven’t seen Portugal take part in a friendly since last October because they needed to qualify for the World Cup. The Portuguese beat Qatar 3-0 in Faro before tripping up in the last leg of World Cup qualification. They were in the driver’s seat in their group, but they had to settle for a draw against Ireland in Dublin and were then stunned at home by Serbia in the last Group Stage game. Renato Sanches scored in the 2nd minute to put Portugal ahead, but Dusan Tadic leveled before halftime and Aleksandar Mitrovic scored in the 90th minute to put Serbia in the World Cup.
Portugal was able to get some help in qualifying through the playoff, and the Portuguese are currently 2-1-1 in UEFA Nations League play. They settled for a 1-1 draw in Spain before hammering Switzerland 4-0 in Lisbon and followed that up with a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic. However, they fell to the Swiss 1-0 in Geneva, as they have struggled away from home.
Roster
Until he hangs up his boots, Cristiano Ronaldo will be the captain and star player of Portugal. The greatest player in Portuguese history, and one of the all-time greats, has been synonymous with his home country over the last two decades. Ronaldo has played a national record 189 games with Portugal, and his 117 goals are almost three times as many as former legend Eusebio. He isn’t the same goal scoring force he was in his prime, but he is still one of the best in the world.
There are other talented forwards up top too. Andre Silva has shown a lot during his time with Portugal, and both Goncalo Guedes and Diogo Jota have shown flashes as well. Joao Felix has the potential to be the next great player at 22 years old, yet he might not factor into the Starting XI in Qatar.
The midfield has some quality playmakers in Renato Sanches, Joao Moutinho, Bernardo Silva, and William Carvalho. Bruno Fernandes has shown that he can play a difference maker too, although he is currently on a Manchester United team that is in shambles at the moment.
Pepe is the leader of the back line, but he will turn 40 years old in February, so pace and stamina are real concerns. Danilo Pereira, Joao Cancelo, and Raphael Guerreiro are likely to be the other starters, but 20-year-old Nuno Mendes could end up breaking into the starting lineup.
Once again, Rui Patricio will be the first-choice goalkeeper. Patricio is one of four players on Portugal with over 100 caps, and he is the only one of those four that could be on the 2026 World Cup roster too.
Prediction
Portugal has the talent to make a deep run at the World Cup, but there are questions in the back line, and the chemistry hasn’t always been the best from this bunch. That could lead to some disappointing results against three quality opponents in the Group Stage, and that’s why Portugal isn’t as much of a favorite to get to the knockout rounds as other World Cup favorites.
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