Ronaldo’s Portugal primed for Switzerland test

Portugal and Switzerland will lock horns in their World Cup last-16 match at the Lusail Stadium Tuesday.

Portugal have only made it to the quarter-finals of a World Cup once since 1966. They finished as the toppers in Group H, winning two and losing one of their three games.

Fernando Santos' men scored six goals in the group stage and their dynamic attackers will once again need to produce the goods on Tuesday.

Portugal fell 2-1 to South Korea in their final group-stage game. But Santos rested some of their starters after already sealing a berth in the knockout stages prior to their final group stage game.

Captain Cristiano Ronaldo will bid again to equal the record of World Cup goals scored for Portugal held by Eusebio, who racked up nine in 1966 in England but his form in front of goal will be a cause for concern for his side.

Santos, however, has been boosted by news that key midfielder Otavio should be fully fit and ready to play against Switzerland.

Portugal may have beaten Switzerland 4-0 in June but midfielder William Carvalho says his side will be laser-focused on the details when they meet again on Tuesday for a place in the quarter-finals.

The Portuguese ran riot against the Swiss when they met in the Nations League in Lisbon, but they lost 1-0 in the return fixture a week later.

"I'm sure we'll face a Swiss team with a lot of possession and we are ready for that, There have been surprises (at this World Cup), that's a fact, we need to be focused from the first minute to the last so that things go our way, and not the other way," Carvalho told reporters.

"For me it is gonna be totally different, because there is no friendly game, this is no Nations League, the pressure is high, and so now it's important how the players deal with this pressure," said Xherdan Shaqiri.

The Swiss quietly finished second in their group behind Brazil, victories over Cameroon and Serbia earning their place in the last 16.

Shaqiri believes Switzerland have all the tools they need to make it to the World Cup quarter-finals, but they will need to work together if they are to beat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the last 16 on Tuesday.

"We need a special performance. Portugal to be honest, they are a good team and for me also the favourite in this game, but we know our qualities too. We will try to have a good, special performance and try to cause them a lot of problem in the game."

Shaqiri's goal against Serbia in the group stage meant he has found the net in more World Cup tournaments than any other Swiss player, having also scored in 2014 and 2018.

He is one goal away from matching the most World Cup goals scored by a Switzerland player - six, by Sepp Huegi all in 1954.