Portugal vs Wales – Prediction

Portugal vs Wales - Euro 2016 Betting Tips

Portugal vs Wales (Pic Cou: ibtimes.co.uk)

Wales to Win – (2-1) – Portugal according to most of the bookies and pundits are the favorites heading into the game. Despite their unconvincing performances till now their experience at this stage of the tournament is expected to help them through to the finals. Wales on the other hand have been brilliant thus far and i wouldn’t be one of those who call them an underdog. Most of their team is composed of talents who are playing in the top leagues of Europe. This promises to be an entertaining clash but Wales should carry on their form and get the best of Portugal.

Find out who you should place your money on as the winner of Euro 2016 here.

Fixture Overview

Match 49

Portugal vs Wales

Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon

9 P.M CET, 06-07-2016

Betting Tips – Portugal vs Wales

  •  Wales to Win – 4.20 (Ladbrokes)

If would’ve preferred to stay away from placing my money on any team winning but the odds are really good. All of Wales’ games have had a result within the 90 minutes while Portugal have had no results other than a draw in normal time. Wales are good enough to beat the Portuguese so this bet isn’t a gamble like many are suggesting.

  • Both teams to Score – Yes – 2.25 (William Hill)

All but one of Wales’ games have seen goals being scored by both teams. Three of the five games involving Portugal have also seen goals being scored by either team. The attacking talent on display won’t disappoint us and we hope to see a lot of goals by either team in this game.

  • Over 2.5 goals – 2.70 (Betfair)
  • Anytime Goalscorer – Cristiano Ronaldo – 2.25 (Paddypower)

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Route to the Semi’s

Portugal

The Selecao’s qualified for the round of 16’s as one of the four best 3rd placed teams. They drew all their three games in the group stage against Iceland(1-1), Austria(0-0) & Hungry(3-3) accumulating just three points.

In the round of 16’s they went up against Croatia and came out 1-0 winners thanks to extra time goal from Quaresma. In the quarter finals they managed to get the better of Poland by beating them 5-3 through a penalty shoot out after the game had ended 1-1 in normal time & extra time.

Wales

Wales qualified for the knockout rounds as the winner of Group B with 6 points. They won their games against Slovakia (2-1) and Russia (3-0) but suffered a minor setback against England who beat them 2-1 thanks to a injury time goal.

In the round of 16’s they had to face tough resistance from Northern Ireland but managed to win the game thanks to a own goal from Northern Ireland. In the quarters they went up against world no.2 Belgium but still came out as 3-1 victors to book a place in the semis.

Portugal Betting Tips

Nani, Portugal vs Wales - Betting Tips, Euro 2016 Semifinals

Nani has played a part in 3 of the 6 goals Portugal have scored till now – 2 goals & 1 assist (Pic Cou: express.co.uk)

They may not have been at their best till now but Wednesday will mark Portugal’s 5th appearance in the semifinals of the European Championships.Portugal however have failed to make it past the Semi’s in all but one of their attempts. In the 2012 edition of the tournament it was the eventual winners Spain that got the better of them in the Semi’s via penalties.

It’s been well documented as to how Portugal are yet to win a game in normal time at this edition of the Euro’s. Portuguese head coach Fernando Santos has made it clear though that they prefer to play ugly and remain in the tournament rather than playing attractive football and heading home.

Unlike the previous two games Portugal start as the slight favorites against Wales but need to come together as an attacking unit as they’ve been ineffective till now. They’ve scored just 6 goals till now and three of them came in their group stage draw against Hungry.

Portugal has appeared in 33 games at the European championships till date which is the most number of appearances by a team who have not won tournament yet.

Cristiano Ronaldo who has largely been missing in this tournament has an opportunity to redeem himself against Wales and one more goal will tie him with Michel Platini’s record of 9 goals in the Euro’s.

The last and only time Portugal have won a semi-final fixture in the Euro’s was in 2004 when they got the better of Netherlands 2-1 but were stunned by Greece in the final. Portugal are yet to lose any of their 12 competitive game under Fernando Santos winning 8 of them.

As mentioned before Portugal got the better of Poland in the quarter finals through penalties however it is to be noted that no team has ever won two back to back penalty shootouts in a major tournament.

Real Madrid Pepe is a doubt for the game after suffering a thigh injury. Santos has made it clear that he will not risk his team’s chances by fielding a unfit player. Holding midfielder William Carvalho though will miss the tie serving a suspension. The happy news for Santos though is that the duo of Raphael Guerreiro and Andre Gomes has recovered from their respective injuries and are available for selection against Wales.

Selecao Top Scorer Bet

  1.  Cristiano Ronaldo – 1.40 (Bet 365)
  2. Nani – 3.50 (Paddypower)
  3. Ricardo Quaresma – 17.00 (Betvictor)
  4. Renato Sanches – 21.00 (Ladbrokes)

Ronaldo and Nani have scored two goal so far while Quaresma & Sanches have pitched in with one. We along with the bookies expect the Real Madrid superstar to step up against Wales thus the relatively low odds on offer.

Overall Finish/Stage of Elimination Bet

  1. Semifinal – 2.63 (Coral)
  2. Runner-up – 2.30 (Bet 365)
  3. Winner – 4.50 (Ladbrokes)

Will they lose on Penalties? – No – 1.13 (Bet 365)

Nope & if the game versus Wales reaches the shootout they’ll most likely end up as the winners.

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Euro 2016 Quarter Final Bet Tips

We got 3 of the 4 results during the quarterfinal stages correctly and most of our betting tips turned in a profit. Don’t believe us? See for yourself!

Portugal vs Poland

Wales vs Belgium

Germany vs Italy

France vs Iceland

Wales Betting Tips

Gareth Bale, Portugal vs Wales Euro 2016 Semifinal Betting Tips

Gareth Bale has had a total of 14 shots on target (3 converted) which is the most by any player in this tournament (Pic Cou: Dailymail.co.uk)

We were those in the minority that had backed Wales against Belgium in the quarters. They not only got the better of Belgium but also outplayed them in the process. They are the smallest nation to ever reach the semifinals of a major tournament. Can they create history and get the better of Portugal and reach the finals?

Like Denmark in 1992 & Greece in 2004 Wales are certainly capable of creating a major upset 12 years on. Welsh superstar Gareth Bale truly believes his team can make it all the way citing Denmark & Greece as examples. They have won 4 of their 5 games till now and have scored plenty of goals(10) in the process.

Most if not all of the Welsh players have stepped up their game but perhaps the brightest light of them all has been Aaron Ramsey who has been so influential providing 4 assists and even chipping in with a goal. He will however watch the game against Portugal from the stands after picking up a second yellow versus Belgium.

Engulfed in their underdog story most of the pundits and fans alike seem to forget that this Wales debut in the European championships. They are the first debutante team to do so after Sweden in 1992.

If Wales are to reach the final then it will be the first time in 50 years that a British team makes it into finals of major tournament since England won the World Cup in 1966.

As mentioned Aaron Ramsey will be unavailable serving a suspension. Another absentee among the Welsh ranks will be defender Ben Davies who also serves a suspension.

Wales Top Scorer Bet

  1. Gareth Bale – 1.06 (Paddypower)
  2. Hal Robson Kanu – 10.00 (188 Bet)
  3. Sam Vokes – 41.00 (Paddypower)
  4. Aaron Ramsey – 201.00 (Bet 365)

Gareth Bale is yet to score in the knockout stages after scoring in all of the group games(3 goals). Bale is expected finish on top of the Welsh scoring chart & is also our pick to be the tournament’s top scorer. Robson Kanu who has two goals to his name is also a compelling option with the odds on offer for him.

Overall Finish/Stage of Elimination Bet Tips

  1. Semifinal – 1.55 (Boylesports)
  2. Runner-up – 3.40 (Bet 365)
  3. Winner – 9.50 (888 Sport)

Wales are our pick not because they are the “favorites” to do so or anything just because of the odds. Not for the faint hearted.

Portugal vs Wales – Past Meeting

Both these teams have never met in a competitive fixture till date. The last time these two teams faced each other was in a friendly in June 2000 & Portugal won the game 3-0.

Final Verdict

This will be a game between two equally matched teams. Wales will be hoping carry on their Cinderella run while Portugal will want to get the better of their Semifinal jinx. The winner will probably face their toughest opposition till now in the finals which could be against either be against Germany or France.

The logical option would be to back one among the other semifinalists. But Wales have shown they are capable of beating the best and since their odds are very high they are my bet to win the tournament.