LIVE Build-up to Portugal's clash with Belgium: Latest news, quotes, stats, opinions and more
13:50 (27th June) - Portugal only had 4 days rest for this match - will Santos ring the changes?
One of the major negatives for Portugal in finishing 3rd in their group is that they now have just 4 days recovery and training time between their final group stage match and the round of 16 - meaning their opponents have a significant 48 hours more rest time in preparation for this fixture, which could be a crucial factor in this battle. Will it lead to Fernando Santos rotating his side slightly, to keep his team fresh? Here’s how Portugal may line up this evening:
Rui PATRICIO - Nelson SEMEDO, PEPE, Ruben DIAS, Nuno MENDES - Joao PALHINHA, Joao MOUTINHO, Renato SANCHES - Bernardo SILVA, Diogo JOTA, Cristiano RONALDO.
13:35 (27th June) - Moutinho jokes about physicality
Another from Wolves’ Moutinho here, who when asked whether Ronaldo is envious of Lukaku’s physique, he turned the question to himself, saying: “If you were to ask me, then yes I am - due to my own size!” We love you just the way you are, Joao!
13:13 (27th June) - Ronaldo has always been a point of reference
Fernando Santos also spoke about the influence that Cristiano Ronaldo has on the team, and in particular the younger members of the squad: “Ronaldo has always been an example for Portuguese football and younger players ever since he started playing. Great players are always a great example to youngsters because they want to be the best like them.”
12:43 (27th June) - More from Fernando Santos’ press conference
"We have to stick to our principles if we make changes. If we just think about our opponent, we are thinking too small. We need to think about ourselves and the strategy. We will see the XI, but whoever's in the XI will have my full confidence”.
12:02 (27th June) - 8 hours until kickoff
The day has arrived. As Fernando Santos would say, it's the first of hopefully four finals that Portugal will be competing in during this competition, and we are under 8 hours from kickoff in this very even clash.
22:40 (26th June) - Italy waiting for Portugal in the quarter finals
Portugal now know that, if they are able to overcome Belgium, they will face Italy in the quarter final after Roberto Mancini's side beat Austria 2-1 after extra time.
21:17 (26th June) - Fernando Santos sees both sides as extremely balanced ahead of this “final”
Fernando Santos also spoke ahead of the match, holding Belgium in high esteem and referring to this match as “a final”. “Teams like Belgium and Portugal do not have many negative points. It’s up to me to find the strategic approach - great teams always look for less strong aspects to exploit. It’s a final – it is for winning, not just for playing. We know we will have a very good opponent but I have the strong conviction that we will be better.”
17:55 (26th June) - More to Belgium that de Bruyne
Moutinho was also asked about the importance of Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne to the Belgium national team - but the Wolves man was quick to point out that there is quality throughout the entirety of their squad: “It's not just Kevin [that's dangerous], but of course he's an excellent player... an excellent performer in all parts of the game… If he has room to think and execute, he’s even more dangerous. But it's not just him. If they have room, they'll play their game and make our job that much harder and we've got it to be aware of all of them.”
He also pointed out the ability of his club teammate Leander Dendoncker, saying: “Dendoncker is a player who has a great ability to play box to box.”
17:05 (26th June) - Belgium have 48 hours extra rest - but Moutinho says it cannot play a role
It is true that one of the major negatives for Portugal in finishing 3rd at the group stage is that they now have just 4 days between their final group stage match and the round of 16 - meaning their opponents have a significant 48 hours more rest time in preparation for this fixture. But Moutinho says that this cannot be a factor. “This cannot have weight. Of course there are two more days [rest for Belgium], but we had four days to prepare and from Euro 2016 we already showed that we are able to recover well. The most important thing is to rest well, train, practice out routines, and be 100% ready for the game.”
16:56 (26th June) - Moutinho on what he can offer Portugal
Moutinho, who impressed in the match with France last Thursday, is very much in contention to retain his place in the starting XI, and spoke about his strengths and qualities and what he can offer the national team: “I try to impose the rhythm of the game. I like having the ball. If the coach thinks I’m a player with the ideal characteristics to play Belgium, I’'ll be put on the field. But it’s up to the coach to decide who is the player that has the most suitable characteristics for each game.”
16:51 (26th June) - Moutinho: “Don’t be afraid”
Moutinho had plenty to say ahead of the clash with Belgium, and was full of praise for Portugal’s upcoming opponents: “Belgium are a very cohesive team, as they have already shown during the group stage. They score a lot of goals and concede very few. Let’s try to impose out game and take advantage of any gaps they may have. We will do our best to advance, this is the main objective.”
He has also encouraged his teammates to take the game to their opponents and play with no fear: “Try to have the ball. Don’t be afraid, try to attack and defend well.”
16:42 (26th June) - Portugal press conference
Joao Moutinho has just spoken at Portugal’s press conference in the build-up to the match with Belgium - and here is what he had to say…
15:53 (26th June) - Portugal vs Belgium is the standout match of the round of 16
Former French manager Raymond Domenech believes that Portugal’s round of 16 match will be the most intriguing battle of them all, saying in L’Equipe: “The poster game? I would say Belgium vs Portugal. The two countries are among the favorites for the title and it will be a balanced game. Here, we don't know what will happen. Portugal is never easy to play against, we saw that in the first half against France, who still played well”.
15:28 (26th June) - Alderweireld: Portugal are more than just Cristiano Ronaldo
More from Alderweireld: “Of course everyone talks about Cristiano Ronaldo, he's one of the best in the world, but not only him - I think they have a lot of quality around him as well that create chances for him, so we have to be top to beat them.”
14:48 (26th June) - Respect for Portugal - but Belgium are “hungry” for trophies
It’s fair to say that this is Belgium’s Golden Generation, boasting some top class players plying their trade in some of the elite leagues in world football, so their confidence is understandable. So far, however, this crop of talents have failed to deliver tangible success for the nation, and this may be one of the last opportunities for this team to do so. That determination to deliver silverware is evident, as Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld pointed out, saying: “We are very hungry, the desire is unbelievable with us to achieve big things for our country and for this team so I think we will do everything in our powers to beat them.”
He did, however, have plenty of admiration for Fernando Santos’ side too, stating: “They (Portugal) are a very difficult team to beat, they have a lot of quality. The team is very compact, they know how to play big games in big tournaments. A lot of experience as well, so I think we have to be top to beat them.”
14:28 (26th June) - A very un-Fernando Santos start to Portugal's Euro 2020 campaign
Having built a reputation as a cautious tactical manager who makes his teams defensively resilient, particularly after the manner in which Portugal won Euro 2016, this has been a rather atypical tournament for Fernando Santos so far - and though it's been entertaining, some aspects of the competition thus far must have him pulling his hair out. Portugal have scored 7 goals already this campaign - but have also already conceded 6 - more than they did at the entirety of Euro 2016, where they conceded just 5 goals en route to the title. Goals, goals, goals has been the story of this tournament so far - at both ends.
14:22 (26th June) - Welcome back
Day two of out buildup to the match between Belgium and Portugal gets underway here as we plan to give more facts, stats and statements ahead of the highly anticipated battle.
20:43 (25th June) - Carrasco: Everybody is afraid of playing against us
Ironically, having just said Portugal should have nothing to fear, Belgium's Yannick Carrasco has a very different opinion. Speaking well before this match with Portugal, the Belgian star said: “It is a very difficult path, the second half [of the bracket] seems easier, but the other teams are afraid of facing Belgium, and now we must prove why”.
20:30 (25th June) - OPINION: Belgium are favourites - but Portugal have nothing to fear
There's a reason international media are generally making Belgium the comfortable favourites in this one. They, after all, topped their group with 3 wins from 3 and are 1st in the FIFA World Rankings, while Portugal squeaked through in 3rd and were ripped apart by a German side that play a very similar formation to Belgium. But Portugal should still have plenty of confidence heading into the match. It is noteworthy that Belgium were themselves dominated throughout the vast majority of their match with Denmark, and though they got the win, Denmark had plenty of success in creating chances against Roberto Martinez's side. Portugal's display against France is also cause for optimism, and with Renato Sanches dominant in midfield and in tremendous form, Portugal have to have confidence heading into this match as defending champions.
19:58 (25th June) - Portugal's all-time record against the Belgians:
Portugal have a very even record against Belgium at senior level, having won 6, drawn 7 and lost 5 against their upcoming opponents since their first ever bout in 1930. Portugal do have the better recent record in their head to head results though, having not lost to Belgium in their last 5 meetings - winning 3 and drawing 2 - with the Seleção's last defeat to Belgium coming all the way back in 1989. The last time they faced each other ended in a 0-0 draw in a pre-World Cup friendly in 2018.
19:29 (25th June) - Portugal considered heavy underdogs for this bout:
Belgium are considered comfortable favourites to progress in this clash with the European champions, given a 66.2% chance of victory (at the time of writing) according to Opta Analyst. Portugal are considered 8th favourites to win the whole competition by the renowned sports data analysts, while Belgium are 2nd.
18:50 (25th June) - Buildup to the Round of 16
Welcome to the page! Here we plan to give you updates on some of the latest news, opinions, facts and quotes as the monstrous clash between two of the pre-tournament favourites - Belgium and Portugal - approaches, with the match set to get underway this Saturday evening.
