European champions Portugal take on Copa America winners Chile in Kazan on Wednesday in the first semi-final of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The two nations have met just twice before on a football pitch: first all the way back in 1928 at the Olympic Games, when Portugal won 4-2, and then in a friendly match in 2011, which ended 1-1. Both teams are determined to go all the way in the FIFA Confederations Cup, but Portugal are slight favourites thanks to their better performances in the tournament so far.
Portugal started the tournament with a fairly unconvincing 2-2 draw against Mexico, but then they beat Russia 1-0 and New Zealand 4-0 to finish first in Group A. They have not lost in five matches in all competitions and those two goals conceded against Mexico are the only ones they let in during that period. Left-back Raphael Guerreiro picked up an ankle injury during the group stage and could miss the rest of the tournament, but Cristiano Ronaldo should be in top shape after being rested for almost half of the last group match.
Chile have not impressed so far at the FIFA Confederations Cup, but they still managed to pull through to the semi-finals. They started with a 2-0 victory over Australia, then held Germany to a 1-1 draw and secured the same result against Australia in the last match to finish second in Group B. Star striker Alexis Sanchez has scored just one goal in the tournament so far and he is expected to do more in the semi-finals. Claudio Bravo was given a starting place between the sticks against Australia and he will probably keep his place for the remainder of the tournament.
Probable line-ups:
Portugal: Patricio - Soares, Alves, Pepe, Eliseu - B. Silva, A. Silva, Carvalho, Quaresma - Andre Silva, Roaldo
Chile: Bravo - Isla, Jara, Diaz, Beausejour - Aranguiz, Medel, Vidal - Fuenzalida, Vargas, Sanchez
My prediction: 1-1 draw after 90 minutes.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Portugal win - 2.50
Draw - 3.25
Chile win - 3.20
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Comments (1)
sharpe
06/27/17, 10:06:52 PM
Well, my opinion about this tournament is that it's waste of time in all ready overloaded football calendar but anyway...those are probably the two teams being favoured...
Well, my opinion about this tournament is that it's waste of time in all ready overloaded football calendar but anyway...those are probably the two teams being favoured winning the tournament before the start of it...but now only one of them would reach the final...to be honest don't have an idea which one will do that but certainly Portugal playing better so far.
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