The Portuguese team, who suffered a surprise defeat to Georgia, will play this Monday in Frankfurt, Germany, to reach the quarter-finals of the Euro 2024 football tournament against Slovenia, who have not yet lost in this competition.
Portugal, the 2016 champions, enter the play-offs as Group F winners with six points after beating the Czech Republic (2-1) and Turkey (3-0) and, having already qualified and won the group, losing to Georgia (0-2).
Slovenia, who are participating in the last 16 of a major tournament for the first time, finished third in Group C in their second participation in the European Championship, registering three draws: 1-1 with Denmark and Serbia and 0-0 with Denmark and Serbia. England.
In a friendly in Ljubljana in March, Slovenia inflicted their first defeat on Portugal in the Roberto Martinez era, winning 2-0 in the first ever clash between the two countries.
After his revolution against Georgia, which saw him make several changes to the starting line-up, coach Roberto Martinez is likely to bring back the likes of Pepe, Ruben Diaz, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva.
Slovenia’s main point of reference is goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who played for Benfica, as well as striker Andraz Soprar, a former Sporting and Sporting Braga player, and Benjamin Sesco, one of the country’s most promising players.
The meeting at Deutsche Bank Park, which can accommodate around 50,000 people, will start at 21:00 local time (20:00 in Lisbon) and will be officiated by Italian Daniele Orsato.
If it passes, the national team will face the winner of the duel between France and Belgium, who also face each other this Monday in Düsseldorf at 18:00 local time (17:00 in Lisbon).
The Gauls, champions in 1984 and 2000 and current vice-world champions, were second in Group D behind Austria, while the Belgians, Portugal’s 2020 executioners, were second in Group E behind Romania.
Switzerland, Germany, England and Spain have already secured their place in the quarters.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Sandra Hansen, a news website Author and Reporter for 24 News Reporters. I have over 7 years of experience in the journalism field, with an extensive background in politics and political science. My passion is to tell stories that are important to people around the globe and to engage readers with compelling content.