Portugal vs Sweden prediction: WORLD: Friendly International betting tips on match 2024-03-20 19:45.
[p]Portugal head into this friendly encounter against Sweden hoping to see their team carry on the fine form that saw them win all ten of their matches in 2023. That maintained the 100% winning record of manager Roberto Martinez (W10), who replaced Fernando Santos in January 2023 following the nation’s disappointing showing at the 2022 World Cup.[/p]
[p]All of those matches were Euro 2024 qualifiers as they breezed to qualification by scoring 36 goals and conceding only two. Sweden should represent a stiffer test to Martinez’s 100% record however, yet four wins from the last five H2Hs (L1) will only enhance confidence in the home camp ahead of this first meeting between the sides since October 2020. [/p]
[p]While the hosts will be using this game as a warm-up for Euro 2024, there’ll be no such excitement for Sweden who failed to qualify after a disappointing showing in which they won just three of their eight qualifiers (D1, L4). Successive wins in their most recent two matches – both against Estonia – will have slightly boosted the mood in the camp, as will the arrival of Jon Dahl Tomasson, who joined last month to become the country’s first-ever foreign coach.[/p]
[p]Not since January 2023 have Sweden strung together three or more successive wins, yet none of the victories in that four-game winning run came against a side currently ranked inside FIFA’s top ten nations. Sweden’s last win against such a side actually came way back in September 2021 against Spain (2-1), while not since March 2017 have they beaten one of those countries on the road, but notably, that opponent was Portugal (3-2)! [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Bruno Fernandes scored the opener in Portugal’s last fixture in November, and he’s also registered three goal contributions across his last four Manchester United matches (G1, A2). Sweden striker Viktor Gyökeres netted a hat-trick for Fernandes’ old club Sporting CP last weekend, taking his tally to a remarkable 36 club goals for the campaign. [/p]
[p]Hot streak: Portugal have led at half-time in each of their last six matches on home soil. [/p]