The last two Round of 16 fixtures will be held on Day 17 of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Portugal will start as favourites against Switzerland, while 2010 World Cup champions Spain will be hoping to overcome an energetic Moroccan side.
Portugal vs Switzerland
The match between Portugal and Switzerland will be held at Lusail Iconic Stadium. The game will kick off at 1 a.m. Wednesday (Bangladesh Standard Time).
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Portugal had a good couple of wins in the group phase, beating Ghana 3-2, followed by a 2-0 victory over Uruguay. However, they struggled against South Korea in the third match, losing 2-1.
Portugal have some world-class players on their roster who can rise to the occasion and make the difference for their sides. There are some injury concerns in Portugal’s campaign, as Nuno Mendes was ruled out for the rest of the tournament. Danilo and Otavio are doubtful for this fixture as well.
Switzerland finished second in their group behind Brazil. They had two wins in the group phase and one loss against Brazil.
Switzerland will give Portugal a real test in this fixture, as both sides know each other very well.
Switzerland have some talented players on their roster who could surprise the Portuguese. But can they overcome Ronaldo’s Portugal in this very fixture that will be there to be seen.
Verdict: Portugal 2-1 Switzerland
Spain vs Morocco
The match between Spain and Morocco will be held at the Education City Stadium. The game will kick off at 9 p.m. Tuesday (Bangladesh Standard Time).
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Spain started as one of the favourites to win the Qatar World Cup, and they started as one by beating Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening fixture. But they were off-color in the next two games, drawing 1-1 with Germany and losing 2-1 to Japan.
Spain, however, finished second in the group and will try to show their true potential in their Round of 16 match against Morocco. The Spanish side has some seriously talented young players who are the future of their football.
Are Spain capable of reaching all the way to the final? That’s maybe debatable, but Luis Enrique’s side is certainly good enough to play in the quarterfinals.
Morocco have surprised everyone with their counter-attacking and hyperactivity on the field. Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, and other important players from Morocco have implemented their coach’s game plan really well.
Morocco came first in their group by beating Belgium, Canada, and drawing with Croatia. The confidence level is so high at the moment in the Moroccan campaign. Therefore, overcoming this revitalized African side will be a tough task for the Spanish side.
Verdict: Spain 3-2 Morocco
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Aftermath
The ongoing Qatar World Cup 2022 Round of 16 will conclude on day 17 of the competition. Two of the world’s strongest teams, Portugal and Spain, will play their fixtures tonight. They will certainly start as favourites in their respective games. However, Switzerland and Morocco are well-equipped teams to beat Portugal and Spain, respectively. Qatar 2022 should have another exciting day.
Source: United News of Bangladesh