World Cup 2022 Team Guide: Everything You Need To Know About Portugal

How will Portugal fare at the 2022 World Cup? Join @SamRCox_ as he looks at the European giants in his everything you need to know guide ahead of this winter's competition...

Portugal History at the World Cup

Portugal will play in just their eighth World Cup this winter, though it is also their sixth successive World Cup qualification. The 1966 tournament, where Eusebio starred, was their first appearance, and a third-place finish remains their best effort.

They didn’t qualify again until 1986, when they were eliminated in the group stage.

It was a 16-year wait to play in another World Cup, which again ended at the first hurdle despite a talented squad featuring Luis Figo, Pauleta, Rui Costa and Sérgio Conceição.

Portugal’s fate in football tips improved in the coming years, partly due to the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and various other top-end talents.

They reached the semis in 2006, knocking out England on penalties in the process, ultimately placing fourth following defeats to France and Germany. 

Four years later saw a gutting loss to Spain in the last 16, before a heavy defeat to Germany and draw with the USA led to a group stage exit in Brazil in 2014.

The 2018 tournament was again a disappointment, as Portugal fell to Uruguay in the first knockout round after a brace from Edinson Cavani. 

Overall, Portugal have been an inconsistent team in major tournaments. The group heading to Qatar have experience on their side and plenty of talent, but they are far from favourites and will need some fortune to go on a deep run. 

Portugal Nickname

A country with a long history of discovery and exploration, the Portuguese national team is appropriately named Os Navegadores, meaning ‘the Navigators’. 

Like Brazil, you may also see/hear them referred to as A Seleção, simply meaning ‘The Selection’.

World Cup 2022 Group

Portugal were drawn alongside Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea, putting them in a strong position when it comes to predicting the 2022 World Cup.

Os Navegadores are expected to progress with relative ease, and should get their campaign off a winning start when they face Ghana on 24th November. 

Portugal Fixtures:

  • Portugal vs Ghana – 24th November 2022

  • Portugal vs Uruguay – 28th November 2022

  • Portugal vs South Korea – 2nd December 2022

Portugal Kit World Cup 2022

Seldom too ambitious with their kits, Portugal have a diagonal split between the red and green for something a bit different on the home kit. It still isn’t anything to write home about.

The away, though, is much more intriguing with an off-white base, a banner across the chest of the nation’s two colours and smart navy trim.

Who Is The Portugal Manager?

Fernando Santos is the Portugal manager, a role he has held since 2014. Only two previous Portugal managers have a better winning percentage than Santos, who led A Seleção to the Euros title in 2016.

Having managed each of Portugal’s Big Three as well as Greece, Santos is vastly experienced.

Best Portugal Player

For a long time, this was a non-topic with Cristiano Ronaldo clearly Portugal’s best player. 

That is no longer the case – Bruno Fernandes has the highest market value, Ruben Dias was named Premier League Player of the Season in 2020-21 and Bernardo Silva is one of the best in the world at his position. 

There’s a debate to be had here, but Silva has a strong claim on current form.

Portugal Odds at 2022 World Cup

Portugal are World Cup betting favourites in Group H at 8/13 to finish in top spot. They are firmly in the dark horse category when it comes to lifting the trophy, however, with a price of 12/1 to go all the way.

If oddsmakers are accurate, a last eight elimination is to be expected from the Portuguese, with a 4/5 on a quarter-final appearance and 5/2 to reach the semis.

Cristiano Ronaldo is their lead representative in the Golden Boot market at 14s. 

Bet on Portugal at the 2022 World Cup with 888sport today!

 

October 17, 2022
World Cup 2026
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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

Sam Cox
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World Cup 2022 Team Guide: Everything You Need To Know About Ghana

How will Ghana fare at the 2022 World Cup? Join @SamRCox_ as he looks at La Albiceleste in his everything you need to know guide ahead of this winter's competition...

Ghana History at the World Cup

The Qatar World Cup is Ghana’s fourth appearance in the competition.

They failed to qualify in 2018, marking an end of three consecutive tournament appearances from 2006 through to 2014, which included a last 16 appearance in Germany, followed by a quarter-final run in South Africa.

Unfortunately, those successes were not replicated in Brazil, as they fell at the group stage after taking one point from three matches against Germany, Portugal and the USA. 

Overall, Ghana have won four of their 12 World Cup fixtures, with their most recent win coming in extra time against the United States in 2010, which was followed by a wildly controversial defeat to Uruguay on penalties.

They topped their qualifying group for the tournament in Qatar, claiming 13 points from six matches to edge out South Africa for first place. In the following round, they secured a place at the World Cup by an away goals win over Nigeria. 

Ghana Nickname

Those familiar with the Ghanian flag can probably work out why they are called The Black Stars. 

The black star in the centre of the Ghanian flag is a symbol of anti-colonialism, and is a counter to the White Star Line, showing ownership by black people rather than white. 

World Cup 2022 Group

Any draw was going to represent a challenge for Ghana. Never expected to do much by World Cup predictions, the Black Stars got an easier draw than they could have done. 

Their competition starts with the toughest test of the lot, however, as they matchup with Portugal before a more winnable match with South Korea. 

Ghana Fixtures:

Ghana Kit World Cup 2022

Without being overly critical, Ghana might have the two worst kits at the World Cup. The home is bland with very minor touches of colour, and the red-based away is puzzling.

Buy the away kit without a number and people will be wondering what that box on your chest is about.

Who Is The Ghana Manager?

Former Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Otto Addo is the current Ghana manager. Addo is charged with causing a few football tips surprises in Qatar. 

Having previously been a scout with Ghana, Addo was working as a ‘talent coach’ with Dortmund when he took over as the Black Stars’ head coach in early 2022.

Best Ghana Player

Ghana have a lot of players known around Europe. With his early-season form, Thomas Partey is probably their best player heading into the tournament, but they will also rely on the performances of Andre Ayew and Inaki Williams. 

Ayew will break the record for the most Ghana caps this winter – he’s currently tied with former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan.

Ghana Odds at 2022 World Cup

Ghana are World Cup betting outsiders in Group H at 10/1 to top the section. They are, curiously, also 10/1 to reach the quarter-finals, with only five teams at a longer price. 

Starting off against Portugal, Ghana are 6/1 underdogs, and they are even out at 2/1 to beat South Korea. 

Bet on Ghana at the 2022 World Cup with 888sport today!

 

October 17, 2022
World Cup 2026
Body

Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

Sam Cox
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