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.
Portugal qualify for the 2022 World Cup 🏆
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 29, 2022
Cristiano Ronaldo is set for his fifth appearance at the tournament 🌏 pic.twitter.com/BOwE4Wefx3
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:
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Portugal vs Ghana – 24th November 2022
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Portugal vs Uruguay – 28th November 2022
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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.
Portugal’s 2022 World Cup kits are here 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/Jt5WEedC3W
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 15, 2022
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.
Scored for Portugal, made in Manchester. 🤝
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 7, 2021
Bruno Fernandes finds Bernardo Silva who scores a stunning opener for Portugal against Azerbaijan! 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/ZYpQaYTprF
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!
