Qatar 2022 ticket at stake as Portugal host Serbia in a decider match

No doubt this particular game would be the talking point of the international break for both Portugal and Serbia when both countries go head-to-head against each other.

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Portugal would definitely qualify for Qatar 2022 world cup, if they secure a win or draw against Serbia, while their opponent definitely need a win if they must triumph to avoid play-off.

Despite portugal goalless draw against Ireland in their last match, it was not the ideal result for Portuguese team, but despite that they retained the top spot with a better superior goal difference and can take confidence from a run of four consecutive clean sheets when they meet the Serbian team as both teams are level with the same points.

A win against Serbia would guarantee Portugal’s progression to a fifth straight World Cup finals, although the host have never kept one in any of their seven head-to-head meetings. The Portuguese team will strongly fancy their chance of claiming at least the necessary one point needed to secure the Qatar ticket, the Portuguese team have not lost to Serbia so far, in any of those meetings with three wins and four draws(W3, D4).

The Serbian team will definitely want to avoid the play-offs after they suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout which they lost to Scotland in the Euro 2020 qualification.

Serbia will enter this game with confidence as they take plenty of heart though from a run of just one international defeat in 15 games so far, with eight wins and six draws (W8, D6), which also include a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture after going 2-0 goals down, and their two draws in Portugal from three trips with one lose(L1).

The Serbian team may have a little issue as they haven’t beaten any of FIFA’s current top 30 in any international games since beating Wales in the year 2013, with a run of 22 games without victory. Even their two world cup qualification which saw them secure away wins this campaign were hard fought battle with a narrow one goal success over teams ranked 94th and 119th, respectively.

The Serbian team will only hope and fight for a place in the next year's world cup as the Portuguese team won't be easy to handle.

Players to watch

Diogo Jota

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The Liverpool player who hit twice before half time in the reverse fixture and three of his five strikes at club level this season were definitely match openers in which the Serbian team need to watch out for.

Cristiano Ronaldo

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No doubt he is a player that all would concentrate on as he his despirate to see his country qualify for next year's world cup and will also be a treat for their opponent when both countries meet later tonight.

Dušan Tadić

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The player no doubt would some how need to be watchful for the Portuguese defence as not many players in Europe are as prolific as the Serbian talisman, Tadić however, made 163 goal contributions in 166 appearances for dutch club Ajax so far, with 82 goals and 81 assists and Portugal need to be aware as his despirate to score anytime.



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4 comments
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Uff will be a very interesting game with both teams trying to qualify directly to the World Cup. The balance is tilted to Portugal's side as they have Ronaldo, while Serbia has the strength in their collective play.

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The Portuguese team have more advantage with a draw qualifying them to Qatar.

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It will be a tough match for Portugal.

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It is a 50-50 game for both side

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