Portugal vs Sweden Preview, Prediction and Betting Tips
Portugal vs Sweden Preview
The soccer international friendlies are back on our TV screens as the football world will now turn its focus away from weekly club football. With the European Championships 2024 a few months away, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will play hosts to Sweden in a bid to further establish themselves as one of the favourites to lift the prestigious continental trophy. The Portugal vs Sweden international friendly will be held on 21st March at Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques. The Euro 2016 champions, who are poised to play their first international soccer game in 2024, will be hoping for a great start to the year before the quadrennial sporting extravaganza kicks off later in the month of June.
Sweden, on the other hand, have no trophy in sight as they failed to qualify for the Euro 2024. They finished third in Group F below Austria and Belgium in the qualifying round. The most brutal setback in their qualifying campaign came in the form of a 0-3 defeat at the hands of Azerbaijan, who are widely regarded as the minnows of international football. With no international football for the Swedish boys in the summer, they will try to reshuffle their cards later this year in League C. This marks their consecutive relegation, as they also finished bottom of their group in the UEFA Nations League 2022.
Following a perfect run in 2023, Robert Martinez’s men now aim for a flying start to the year at home against an inconsistent Swedish side. Portugal won all of their ten games in the qualifying round of the forthcoming European Championships and maintained a perfect record on the watch of their newly appointed coach, Martinez. His managerial prowess has unlocked the aggressive momentum in the team, helping to build a squad with the ability to deliver with or without the presence of their talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo.
After taking charge of Portugal, the Spanish football manager led his team to eight victories on the trot and would hope to continue the winning momentum to prepare his side for the big stage. With their team on song, having finished as the top-ranked side in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, Portuguese fans will now believe in winning the European Championships for the second time in the country’s soccer history.
Portugal will head into this fixture off the back of a comfortable 2-0 win against Iceland last year. As for Sweden, they lost six of their last ten matches in the Euro 2024 qualifiers and now will aim to derail the hosts following a 2-1 victory over Estonia in January earlier this year.
Portugal vs Sweden Team News
Earlier this month, coach Roberto Martinez announced the 30-man Portugal squad for the March international friendlies against Sweden and Slovenia, with Cristiano Ronaldo called up to lead the team. The highest scorer in the history of soccer has already found the back of the net 10 times in the last year for his country.
Also Read: England vs Brazil Preview, Prediction and Betting Tips | Friendlies
With no star player injured, the Spanish coach will have a fully-fit squad to choose the best possible playing XI against Sweden. Ronaldo should once again lead the star-studded attack of the hosts, with the likes of Rafael Leao and Joao Felix. Leao could start ahead of Diogo Jota who has been struggling to score at Liverpool lately. Bruno Fernandes is expected to pair up with Bernardo Silva to run the midfield while Pepe and Ruben Dias will head the defensive line.
As for Sweden, this is going to be the first match for Job Dahl Tomasson after taking charge as coach last month. With limited resources at his disposal, compared to Portuguese firepower, he should not need to make many changes. With players such as Anthony Elanga, Alexander Isak, Victor Lindelof, and Dejan Kulusevski at his disposal, the Swedish coach might opt for a counter-attacking approach against Portugal.
Portugal vs Sweden Predicted Lineups
Portugal possible starting lineup:
Costa; Semedo, Dias, Pepe, Guerreiro; Fernandes, Palhinha, J. Neves; Bernardo, Ramos, Leao
Sweden possible starting lineup:
Olsen; Holm, Hien, Lindelof, Gudmundsson; Cajuste, Larsson, Forsburg; Kulusevski, Gyokeres, Isak
Portugal vs Sweden Head-to-head
The first game between these two teams was held back in 1955 and Sweden clinched an away victory in that encounter. Following the five losses in the first six games against Sweden, Portugal have now taken full control of this fixture. Since a 2-3 loss in a 2017 friendly, Ronaldo and Co have claimed two comfortable victories against the visitors, scoring 5 goals and conceding none in the process. The two European sides have locked horns 20 times so far, with both teams winning 7 times each and drawing on six occasions.
Last 5 H2H Results:
- Portugal 3-0 Sweden (National League, 2020)
- Sweden 0-2 Portugal (Nations League, 2020)
- Portugal 2-3 Sweden (Friendly, 2017)
- Sweden 2-3 Portugal (World Cup qualifier, 2013)
- Portugal 1-0 Sweden (World Cup qualifier, 2013)
Portugal vs Sweden Prediction
With a confident Portugal side roaring to make a statement ahead of Euro 2024, it can be said that they will go all guns blazing against Sweden at home. As Ronaldo is in the twilight of his career, the young Portuguese brigade would like to help him win his second European Championship this year, and this home game against Sweden might be the one where they can test all their firepower before heading into the Euro. As for the visitors, they are expected to sit tight and wait for any mistakes and pound on them. Overall, it should be a goal-fest for Roandlo’s team.
Predicted Score: Portugal 4-1 Sweden
Portugal vs Sweden Odds & Betting Tips
(Subject to change)
Betting Tips:
- Portugal to beat Sweden
- Both teams to score
- Goals over 2.5 – yes
Odds
- Portugal: 4.91
- Draw: 0.72
- Sweden: 1.24
Portugal vs Sweden International Friendly Schedule & Telecast Details
- Schedule: Thursday, 21st March at 7:45 PM (GMT)
- India: Sony Ten Network, SonyLIV
- UK: No broadcaster
- USA: FOX
Also Read: France vs Germany Preview, Prediction and Betting Tips | Friendlies