The European champions ran out narrow 1-0 winners against host nation Russia last time out, with star man and captain Cristiano Ronaldo grabbing the all-important goal in the early stages of the match. It was an important victory for the Portuguese in front of a partisan home crowd, but there are still doubts over whether this team is currently functioning as more than the sum of its parts. Supporters were at least pleased to see Fernando Santos ring the changes after an unconvincing performance in their opening fixture against Mexico, but there is clearly still work to be done if Portugal are to get past Chile and Germany and get their hands on an international trophy for the second successive summer.
New Zealand's 2-1 defeat by Mexico on Wednesday means they have already been eliminated from the competition, but they depart with their heads held high following a highly respectable showing against the CONCACAF representatives. The All Whites took the lead in that game through Chris Wood, before goals from Raul Jimenez and Oscar Peralta spared Mexico's blushes and sent Anthony Hudson's men home. New Zealand will be determined to take Portugal's scalp in their final match in Russia, though, and they should not be written off despite the gulf in quality between the two squads.
Santos will probably keep faith with the team that beat Russia by a goal to nil, with the 4-4-2 formation now firmly established as his favourite. Ronaldo and Adrien Silva will continue alongside one another at the top of the pitch, with Bernardo Silva providing creativity from his nominal position on the right and William Carvalho anchoring the midfield in the centre. At the back, Jose Fonte and Bruno Alves will look to push up and hold a high defensive line; given the pair's advancing years, that is something New Zealand may look to exploit, but they will first need to win possession and beat the Portuguese press if such an approach is to bear fruit.
Hudson also looks set to continue with the same configuration, a defensive 5-3-2 in which the two full-backs take up conservative positions. Wood is the goal threat and all-round danger man up front, while centre-halves Michael Boxall, Andrew Durante and Tommy Smith will inevitably have their hands full in dealing with Ronaldo and co.
Despite New Zealand's admirable efforts earlier this week, it is hard to envisage anything other than a straightforward Portugal triumph at the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg. There is, indeed, little value to be had in simply backing the heavy favourites to come out on top, so something like a Portugal win and an anytime Bernando Silva goal could work better as a combination bet. In the correct scoreline market, a 3-0 success for Santos' side looks like one of the more tempting options.
.png)
