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2014 World Cup Team Previews: Portugal Betting Prediction

World Cup 2014 Team Spotlight – Portugal

With perhaps the best player in the world on their side, Portugal is poised to make a deep run at Brazil 2014 this summer, but they face stiff completion in Group G and will need to be sharp in every match if they want to make it back to the semifinals — their best finish ever in the World Cup finals.

Group G: Germany, Portugal, USA, Ghana
FIFA Ranking: 3
Odds to win: +2500
Jun 16 v Germany, Jun 21 v USA, Jun 26 v Ghana
(+270 to win World Cup) [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

Adeptly supported by a group of talented players, Cristiano Ronaldo is sure to continue his remarkable string of World Cup performances as Portugal tries to raise the trophy for the first time in six World Cup appearances

Portugal has reached the semifinals on two occasions. Once during their first World Cup appearance in 1966, which resulted in a third place after losing to eventual winners England, and the second time in 2006, when they ended up in fourth place
However, not even Ronaldo could get the side to repeat that four years later, as Portugal only made it as far as the round of 16 in South Africa.

The sides other two trips in 1986 and 2002, ended with it not getting past the group stage.

So, can this year’s Portugal World Cup team ride Ronaldo to glory or will they disappoint in Brazil?
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Looking at thee sides World Cup qualifying run, one might be a little unconvinced that Portugal could make it past the knockout rounds after missing out on top spot in their group, and having to rely on a qualifying playoff to punch their World Cup finals ticket.

Despite finishing with 19 points from their final seven qualifying games, Portugal nearly missed the plane ride to Brazil following a nearly disastrous start, in which they pick up just two points from games against Russia, Israel and Northern Ireland.

Ronaldo flowed up with a four goals in a two-game playoff with Sweden, lifting Portugal to 4-2 aggregate win.

With such a scoring machine on their side, it’s hard to envision Portugal making an early exit, but that will fall squarely on the shoulders of manager Paulo Bento, who guided Portugal to the semifinals of Euro 2012 and successfully qualified for Brazil 2014.

The former Sporting Lisbon boss has utilized Ronaldo in an effective method so far, so it’s conceivable that the Real Madrid star will produce many memorable moments this summer in Brazil, with the chance for one or two of those being he deciding factors that could return Portugal to World Cup prominence.

His presence alone will help improve Portugal’s World Cup odds as they could easily dig out wins in tight games.

Matt’s Free Prediction – Round of 16

It’s a tough group that Portugal is in, and where they finish in the group will all come down to how they finish against the Germans in their first match of the tournament.

From there will be a tough but winnable game against the Americans, and a third and final game against Ghana, which they will draw to clinch second and ensure they make it to the next round.

Unfortunately for them, that is all the further I expect them to go.

CappersPicks.com has Soccer Odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find World Cup odds up for early games as well.

By Matt Martz

Matt has returned to CappersPicks.com. The pull was too great. He missed providing his free picks and insider sports gambling analysis to his loyal readers. Please take it easy on him till he gets back into his groove. Cheers!