Morocco v Portugal (Quarter Final)

Yes. Especially if they stretch Portugal with their wingbacks. Morocco are a better side than Switzerland and surely can’t be as bad as the latter were tonight. Somehow managed to do less pressing and play more open than South Korea last night.

 

Will be a much tougher game than Switzerland tonight. It was a slog against them in 2018 and they only seem to have got better since then

All depends on the team selection and to be honest we might be better just trying to outscore them but as they’re yet to concede Morocco will be a tough nut to crack

Another Ramos hat-trick would be nice though!

 

Could be a cracker. Expecting a tight game.

 

Portugal to win

 

and benching Ronaldo this time for the whole match, maybe bring him in before a penalty shootout.
Has worked for Spain pretty well

for the records: Portugal wins imo the match (but if it comes to a penalty shootout and "he" will shoot the deciding one to get the attention, I want them to lose )

 

Do you. Hope is a village about 5 miles from where I live. A small world.

 

Fearing Morocco expended everything they had against Spain.

 

I always thought were Portugal contenders but if they insist of picking Ronaldo every game it will hurt them eventually. They are a better team without him at this moment in time, no doubt. I think they’ll win and they’ll give Brazil all they can handle in the semis

 

They would be playing us or France in the semis.

 

Happy days!

 

This. A lot of key defenders had to be subbed and Hakimi was certainly not 100%. Reckon Morocco have taken themselves as far as they can and that Portugal's attack (which is actual penetrating attack unlike Spain's kickaround that resulted in almost no chances for 120 minutes) will be far too much for the Moroccans. Expecting a comfortable Portuguese win.

 

All depends on our team selection. If we start Ronaldo and he plays with his back to goal with us just aimlessly pumping crosses into him then we won’t win

Start with a very similar team to last time and we can actually use our pace and dynamic front line to stretch Morocco and open up some space. Guerreiro and Dalot will be key imo as the more they push forward, the more space will be freed up for the likes of Felix, Bernardo, Bruno and Ramos

 

Would be stupid imo to bring Ronaldo from the beginning after the last match has shown that the team is playing great attacking football and is somewhat "freed" without him and demanding every pass. The last match was the best match from Portugal that I've seen for many years (ok, tbh I only see them at tournaments or when Germany is playing against them (with Ronaldo in the lineup you couldn't beat us his whole career in tournaments).

Bring him in the last minutes when Portugal is leading and so he can get the attention he needs like air to breathe and maybe he gets then every pass again so that he can make "his goal"

 

Obviously Ramos should start given his hat-trick in the last game but I do think there's an argument for Ronaldo featuring given how deep Morocco will inevitably sit. His movement in the penalty area and heading ability could be crucial in what's bound to be a very tight match.

 

This is the good thing about him, he’s a fantastic option to have available off the bench. I just think starting him and doing what you’ve described plays directly into Morocco’s hands. It’d be 4v1 every time in the box