The Seleccao take on the minnows away from home, but go into the game with confidence after beating the side 5-0 last time out.
Luxembourg:
The hosts do not have any credible record against the mighty Portuguese to boast about, on the contrary, they will try to make sure that the game does not turn into a rout.
Having lost 5-0 the last time these two teams went head-to-head, the pressure to perform will be on Paulo Bento’s men, leaving Luxembourg to draw on their strengths and the support of the home crowd.
Portugal:
The Navigators negotiated a tough campaign in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ukraine-c3032 earlier in the summer and surely deserved to be in the final, when they ended up in losing the semi-finals.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristiano-Ronaldo-c9629 in fine form after scoring a belter. With an attacking line-up, Bento’s troops are favourites to emerge with three points from this one.
Luxembourg:
With no new injury concerns, coach Luc Holtz should be able to name his strongest line-up, with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Tom-c35214 Schnell likely to be in the starting eleven alongside Mario Mutsch.
Willem II’s Aurelian Joachim will lead the attack, but will have to be at their very best, if they are to come out with a positive result at home. Others including Gerson, Leweck, Payal, Peters and Bettmer are also in contention for a place in the team.
Portugal:
Paulo Bento will be aiming to start the qualifiers on a high and comes up with an easy offering in the shape of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Luxembourg-c2945.
The tactician has a number of world-class players at his disposal, but only a selected few will make it to the starting line-up.
Goalkeeper Rui Patricio should make the cut, while http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pepe-c29670, having missed the last game due to injury, could be making his return for the National team in the crucial clash.
In the middle of the park, Joao Moutinho, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nani-c27299 and Cristiano Ronaldo on the wings.
Helder Postiga is likely to be the focal point up-front and will be bombarded with crosses from the flanks.
Coach Bento had earlier piled praise on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ronaldo-c31734, reiterating his importance to the team and the world of football.
"A few years ago we saw that he was a great talent. However, perhaps we did not see him becoming what he is now for both his club and his national team. He is extraordinary. To me it seems like common sense to have a match with 11 substitutions at a moment
like this in the season, after a major international competition.
"The problem is that Uefa and Fifa think about advertising and marketing less than they do about sport. The welfare of players is at stake,” said the tactician.
Key Players:
Luxembourg: Aurélien Joachim
The attacker is his country’s most potent attacking weapon and will look to influence proceedings against a star studded http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984 team.
Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo
The Real Madrid star maybe sad at the Bernabeu, but he will look to turn over a new leaf when he starts for his country.
Author Prediction:
Luxembourg 0:4 Portugal
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