Portugal National Team Preview and Odds to Win the Group G

Portugal begins the 2014 World Cup as the second choice in betting odds to win Group G behind favored Germany. Portugal has Cristiano Ronaldo which means they can be dangerous but they probably don’t have enough to win Group G and they may have a difficult time getting out of Group G which also includes Ghana and the United States. Let’s look at Portugal and their 2014 World Cup schedule.

Portugal is listed with odds of 33-1 to win the 2014 World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The chances of Portugal winning pretty much go hand in hand with how many goals Ronaldo is able to score. When he scores this team can win but when he doesn’t score they have almost no chance. Ronaldo is having one of his best seasons so perhaps he can lead Portugal out of Group G.

This will be the sixth World Cup for Portugal. Their best finish was third in 1966. They made the semifinals in 2006. They lost to Spain in the round of 16 four years ago.

Portugal is coached by Paulo Bento who took over in 2010. He led them to the semifinals at Euro 2012 where they were beaten by Spain on penalties. Bento will be facing a lot of pressure to get Portugal through to the round of 16 but he sounds ready saying, “My footballing philosophy is simply to try and play well and win games. Whichever team plays better has more chance of winning the match. My main objective as coach is to try and get the team as well-organized as possible in tactical terms, as well as finding a balance in personal and professional terms in order to build a group able to handle both good and bad times. That togetherness is vital when the going gets tough.”

Schedule

16 June 2014

Germany vs. Portugal, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

22 June 2014

United States vs. Portugal, Arena Amazonia, Manaus

26 June 2014

Portugal vs. Ghana, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia