We’re into the final week of Euro 2016 and the first semi-final sees Portugal take on Wales in Lyon for a place in Sunday’s final. This will be Wales’ first major semi-final, whilst this will be Portugal’s seventh. However, Portugal’s experience of reaching semi-finals is far from positive as they’ve only advanced to the final once, on home soil in 2004 before losing to Greece. This has been billed as Ronaldo vs. Bale, but there’s much more to it than that.
Portugal haven’t quite got going in the tournament so far. They’re still yet to win a game in 90 minutes, with odds of 2/1 on them to make it to extra time again. On the flipside, they’re still yet to lose a game in the tournament. Having said this, they’re the poorest team left in the competition. The feeling in Portugal is that they’re not bothered about how they play, just as long as they win something. Star man Ronaldo has struggled in the tournament so far and was largely unnoticeable in the quarter final against Poland. He struck the first penalty, but that was his sole contribution in the game. He’s priced at evens to score against Wales; however it’s his teammate Nani who’s been the more impressive of the two in the tournament. Nani has reinvented himself into a striker and having netted twice already in the tournament, he’s at 31/4 to score first against Wales. Pepe is highly likely to miss out on the semi-final with injury whilst William Carvalho is suspended. They’re slight favourites at 6/5 to beat Wales in 90 minutes; however it won’t be easy for them.
The Welsh comprehensively beat Belgium in their quarter final on Friday night and there’s absolutely no reason why they can’t progress to the final. Their team spirit has been admirable and evident throughout the tournament, but it could be tested in this match. Both Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies are serving one-match bans, with Andy King and James Collins set to replace them respectively. Ramsey will be a big loss for the Welsh with his link-up play with Gareth Bale being a key factor in their success in the tournament so far. They showed in the quarter final that they could win without the Real Madrid star making an impact, with Hal Robson-Kanu the unlikely hero. He’s backed at 4/1 to score against Portugal, whilst Bale is at 8/5. Semi-finals are usually tight affairs, but you can get Wales to qualify at 33/20.
Match Prediction
Although Wales haven’t beaten Portugal since 1951, this match could spell a changing of the guard in Madrid if Wales were to progress to the final. Will Ronaldo’s pride be able to handle defeat to his club teammate? With the exception of their game against England, Wales have been brilliant in the tournament so far, whilst Portugal have scraped through to this stage. I can’t see Portugal making it any further and you can get Wales to win 2-1 at 12/1.
