SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2018 18 Pragmatism may rule

won all three of their first round clubs and crowned his career by lead- problem and the solution and many games to top their group, have so far ing Portugal to the European champi- perceive his celebrations as ar- been the impressive of the two and are onship title two years ago. rogant. | the only team yet to concede goal at the His opposite number Oscar Tab - At the other end is Uruguay’s Luis tournament in Russia. arez, a one-time school teacher, is re- Suarez with 53 goals from 101 games ragmatic, difficult to beat, spear- Portugal, meanwhile, muddled markably at his third World Cup in but numerous controversies behind headed by talismanic forwards through their group with draws his current stint with Uruguay. Like him including an nine-game inter- Pand led by veteran, battle-hard- against Spain and Iran and a fortu - Santos, the 71-year-old, who is battling national ban for biting Italy Giorgio ened coaches — few teams have as itous win over Morocco but that is neuropathy, has also won a continental Chiellini four years ago. much in common with each other as unlikely to bother their grizzled coach title, the Copa America in 2011. Both teams use their attacking Uruguay and Portugal who meet in a Fernando Santos, who is always happy Both teams boast forwards who weapons sparingly. World Cup round of 16 tie today. for his team to be considered the ugly divide public opinion despite their Tabarez, who has coached Boca The match may not have the mak- ducklings. goalscoring prowess. Juniors and AC Milan during his ings of a goal feast but still promises Santos, 63, is at his second World Portugal’s Cristiano Ron- time, has always preferred to to be a fascinating battle between Cup, having led Greece to the last 16 aldo has scored 85 goals in build him teams from the two teams who repeatedly punch four years ago. 153 appearances, although back, often arguing that tiny above their weight and who are a The former electrical engineer has when he plays for his coun- Uruguay does not have the mirror image of each other. also coached Portugal’s top three try there is sometimes a resources to play flowing, The South Americans, who teams, had several spells with Greek feeling that he is both the attacking football.

CRISTIANO Nickname | La Celeste (The Sky Blue) RONALDO Rodrigo Bentancur is one booking away from LUIS goals in suspension. SUAREZ World Oscar Tabarez could ring

Cups Uruguay the changes from the side 7 that beat Russia 3-0. Jose goals in Gimenez is set to recover from World injury in time to start, while Diego Cups Laxalt and are 7 expected to retain their starting spots. Fact box Nickname | The Navigators » Uruguay were quietly impressive as they secured a last-16 spot, winning all three group Fernando Santos could bring Joao Moutinho back games and conceding none. The South American side did the bare minimum to land their into the side at ’s expense in the middle spot in the knockout stage, but proved how ruthless they can be in their 3-0 win over of the park. and Andre Silva may Russia. also keep their spots in the XI with and » Portugal hardly set the world alight in Group B and a late penalty conceded against Goncalo Guedes force to settle for a spot on the bench. Iran saw them forfeit top spot, which served as a blow to the European champions. Portugal Adrien Silva, ,FIFA Cedric World Soares, Cristiano Cup 2018 However, they have the star quality to trouble any side on their day and will hope to Ronaldo, Ricardo Quaresma and Raphael Guerreiro are all give Uruguay a run for their money in today’s second match. one booking away from a ban.Uruguay v Portugal » This promises to be a close encounter and it could go all the way in Sochi. Last 16, June 30 Sochi

HEAD-TO-HEAD All-time Portugal-Uruguay more URUGUAY meetings PORTUGAL Soares than Ronaldo v Suarez Laxalt Uruguay 0 Portugal 1 Bentancur FIFA World Cup 2018 Quaresma AFP | Kratovo, Russia Coach Coach Uruguay v Portugal Oscar DrawsCavani 1 Adrien Silva Fernando ortugalLast defender 16, June 30 Godin Vecino Sochi Tabarez Andre Silva Santos Psaid today’s World Cup last-16 Captain Pepe Captain clash withHEAD- UruguayTO-HEAD will be more Diego Cristiano than simply aAll-time battle between Cris- Godin Muslera Patricio Ronaldo tiano Ronaldomeetings and Luis Suarez. RecentRonaldo meetings Gimenez Nandez Carvalho RealUruguay Madrid 0 forwardPortugal 1 Ronaldo COACHBest finish Best finishCOACH Winner 1972 UruguaySuarez1-1 Portugal Fonte Third place has scored four of Portugal’s five Oscar FernandoCoach Coach 1930, 1950 1966 Portugal 3-0 Uruguay 1966 Oscar goals so Drawsfar, while 1 Barcelona star Fernando Tabarez Torreira SantosTabarez Suarez netted against Saudi Arabia Santos ROAD TO LAST 16 Agony, ecstasy as penalty J. Mario Captain and Russia. Captain Caceres Diego Cristiano Group A W Egypt 1-0 Match 1 D SpainGuerreiro3-3 Group B Godin “ don’t think it will be a duel be- Ronaldo Recent meetings shootouts come into play REFEREE Best finish tween Suarez and Ronaldo,” Alves Best finish winner WCaptainS. Arabia 1-0 Match 2 W Morocco 1-0 runner-up 1972 Uruguay 1-1 Portugal FIFA World Cup 2018 Winner said on Thursday. “It’s a match be-Third placeReuters | Nizhny Novgorod, bar to hand Brazil the World W Russia 3-0CesarMatch Ramos 3 (MEX)D Iran 1-1 1930, 1950 1966 Portugal 3-0 Uruguay 1966 Russia tween theROAD two TO teams, LAST 16 Portugal and Cup in 1994 or Chris Waddle Player to watch Player to watch Uruguay, and we’ll do everything with a similarly wild and way- COMPETITION STATISTICS W Egypt 1-0 Match 1 D Spain 3-3 Luis Suarez FIFAUruguay World vCup Portugal 2018 Group A we can to win.” Group B ootball’s cruel mistress ward effort for England in the Last 16, June 30 winner W S. Arabia 1-0 Match 2 W Morocco 1-0 runner-up 5 Goals scored 5 W RussiaPortugal3-0 survivedMatch 3 D aIran late scare1-1 — the penalty shootout — semi-final four years later. Sochi F 44 UruguayTotal v shots Portugal 32 Player to watch against Iran on Monday, as RonaldoPlayer to watcharrives at the World Cup to- In all, 26 World Cup clashes COMPETITION STATISTICS I believe that 15 FIFALastShots World 16, on June target Cup 30 2018 9 It is aLuis great Suarez missed a penalty and was fortunateCristiano Ronaldoday after a packed fortnight have needed penalties to pro- Ronaldo is HEAD-TO-HEADSochi to5 escape aGoals red scoredcard for an elbow.5 of group games, ready to dis- duce a winner, although only 1395 Passes completed 1161 team, with a 44 Total shots 32 pense her characteristic doses twice have they gone past the one of the UruguayAll-time v Portugal coach (Oscar 15 Shots on target 9 12 HEAD-TO-HEADCorners 14 best strikers Last 16, June 30 1395 Passes completed 1161 of unbridled joy and heart - first stage of five kicks each. 53% Possessionmeetings 51% Tabarez) who break in knockout stages. Of the 16 teams in the sec- in the world. All-timeSochi has led it for 12 12 Corners 14 meetings There has been a penalty ond round in Russia starting What Ronaldo UruguayHEAD-TO-HEAD 0 Portugal 1 years. He knows shootout at every World Cup today, all but four have had has onFisht top Olympic of these Uruguay 0 All-timePortugal 1 Owhatriginally he built wants for from since 1982 in Spain, and while past experience of a World qualitiesCoachStadium is that he meetings a game.2014 Winter But aheadCoach it is still a matter of contention Cup shootout. Capacity: Olympics – isOscar theCoach leader of that UruguayDraws 0 1 Portugal 1 of usCoach Fernandois a great whether this is the best way Argentina should be most team.Tabarez48,000Oscar There is not Draws 1 opponentwithFernando $46m andSantos it will to decide a winner, the post- confident, having been in - Tabarez upgradeSantos match shootout is now com- volved in more World Cup a Captainsingle playerCoach that not befor anCoach World easyCaptain game CaptainOscar FernandoCaptain mon at all levels of the game. shootouts than any other contain him. We Draws 1 for both.Cup I’m very DiegoDiegoTabarez CristianoSantosCristiano But the consequences of fail- country and winning four out will haveSource: FIFAto work GodinGodinCaptain confidentRonaldoCaptainRonaldo in my ure are nowhere more devas- of five. Brazil have won three collectivelyPictures: Getty to Images try © GRAPHIC NEWSRecentRecent meetings meetings SATURDAY JUNE 30 SOCHI BestBest finish finishDiego Last playersBestCristiano finishandBest I thinkfinish tating than at a World Cup, of four, including the 1994 final to containGodin him, in 1972 Uruguay 161-1 Portugal Ronaldo where two previous finals and in Los Angeles, and France two WinnerWinner 1972 UruguayRecent1-1 meetingsPortugal 1800we’llThird GMT placebeThird going place to Fisht Stadium order1930, to try 1950Best to finish limit1966 Portugal 3-0 Uruguay Best finishnext1966 round five semi-finals have been de- of four, losing to Italy in the de- effect1930, he 1950 canWinner have 19661972PortugalUruguay 3-01-1 PortugalUruguay Third place 1966 cided by the gut-wrenching ciding game in Berlin in 2006. 1930, 1950 1966 RPortugalOAD TO L3-0ASTUruguay 16 1966 ROAD TOURUGUAY LAST 16 PORTUGAL lottery of penalties. But for the likes of England, Group A W Egypt 1-0 ROADMatch TO 1 LASTD 16Spain 3-3 Group B Uruguay vs Portugal Inevitably it is the misses Mexico and Switzerland the W Egypt 1-0 Match 1 D Spain 3-3 Soares that are best remembered, prospect of progress in Rus- Groupwinner A Group AW S.W ArabiaEgypt 1-0 1-0MatchMatch 2 1 WDMoroccoSpain Laxalt1-03-3 Grouprunner-up BGroup B winner winnerW S. ArabiaW S. Arabia 1-01-0 MatchMatch 22 WWMoroccoMorocco1-0 runner-upBentancur1-0 runner-up none more so than Italy’s Rob- sia hinging on spot kicks will W Russia 3-0 Match 3 D Iran 1-1 Quaresma 9:00 PM erto Baggio blasting over the verge on the terrifying. W Russia 3-0 Match 3 D Iran 1-1 Player to watchW Russia 3-0 Match 3 D Iran Player1-1 to watch Luis SuarezPlayer to watch COMPETITION STATISTICS CristianoPlayer Ronaldoto watchCavani Adrien Silva Player to Luiswatch Suarez COMPETITION STATISTICS GodinCristianoVecino RonaldoPlayer to watch 5 COMPETITIONGoals scored STATISTICS 5 Luis Suarez 5 Goals scored 5 Cristiano RonaldoAndre Silva 44 Total shots 32 Pepe 5 44 GoalsTotal scoredshots 32 5 15 Shots on target 9 44 15 ShotsTotal on shots target 9 32 1395 Passes completed Muslera1161 Ronaldo Patricio 1395 Passes completed 1161 Nandez Carvalho 1512 ShotsCorners on target Gimenez14 9 12 COACHCorners 14 Fonte COACH 139553% 53% PassesPossessionPossession completed 51%51%1161 Suarez Oscar Fernando 12 Corners 14 Tabarez Torreira Santos Fisht OlympicFisht Olympic53% Possession OO51%riginallyriginally builtbuilt for for J. Mario StadiumStadium Caceres2014 WinterWinter Guerreiro Capacity: Olympics – Capacity:48,000 Captain Olympicswith $46m – REFEREE Fisht48,000 Olympic Owithriginallyupgrade $46m built for forupgrade WorldCesar Ramos (MEX) Stadium for World2014Cup Winter Capacity:Source: FIFA OlympicsCup – 48,000Source: FIFAPictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS with $46m Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS upgrade for World Cup Source: FIFA Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS