Joe Casey
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Switzerland managed to come out on top in a winner-take-all game against Serbia in its final group game to secure 2nd place in Group G behind Brazil. The prize for that result was a round-of-16 game against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, who are looking to improve a poor recent record at the World Cup.
We’ve come up with a Same Game Parlay for the final game before the quarterfinals, which could pay out at +716 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook at the time of publishing.
Be sure to check out the rest of our World Cup soccer predictions and remember to gamble responsibly.
Under 2.5 goals (-148)
Breel Embolo 1 or more shots on target (+135)
Over 4.5 cards (+150)
Same Game Parlay odds: +716
Let’s check out the reasoning behind each of our selections:
Under 2.5 goals (-148)
Switzerland came through a high-scoring affair 3-2 to secure a spot in the World Cup round of 16, but its solid defense means that games with fewer goals are more typical. Five of its last 8 games have gone under 2.5 goals and the Swiss are likely to sit deep against a dangerous Portugal team, looking to strike with a counter-attack. These teams have met twice already this year and the most recent meeting was a 1-0 win for Switzerland, from which the underdogs should take plenty of confidence.
A late winning goal for South Korea in the final group game meant Portugal qualified with just 6 points and Ronaldo’s team looked disjointed at times in the group. Head coach Fernando Santos is famous for his cautious style of play and he looks unlikely to take any major risks in this encounter. I’ll take under 2.5 goals in what may be a cagey affair.
Don’t miss our full Portugal vs Switzerland predictions
Breel Embolo 1 or more shots on target (+135)
Switzerland is not an overly offensive team and it relies on striker Breel Embolo for much of its threat. The 25-year-old is a physical presence and plays a key role holding up the ball for his team throughout this game. Embolo is more than a hold-up man however, and has scored 2 of Switzerland’s four goals in Qatar.
The Monaco striker leads the team with 3 shots on target and could register another in this crucial matchup. Embolo has scored 7 times in just 13 starts for his club this season and has been a revelation in the French league.
Over 4.5 cards (+150)
Switzerland’s final group game with Serbia saw 11 cards shown and while that may not be repeated in this clash, the referee could still be busy.
Two of Portugal’s 3 games have seen 5 or more cards issued and its tricky wide players and forwards tend to tempt their opponents into fouls, leading to more opportunities for cards to be shown. With the stakes as high as they are, take 5 or more cards in this game.
Make sure you check out the rest of our World Cup predictions for the upcoming games
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