World Cup

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World Cup | Last 16

Dec 6, 2022 at 7pm UK

Lusail Iconic Stadium

Portugal
6 - 1
Switzerland

Ramos (17', 51', 67'), Pepe (33'), Guerreiro (55'), Leao (90+2')

FT(HT: 2-0)

Akanji (58')
Schar (43'), Comert (59')

Xherdan Shaqiri out to equal Switzerland World Cup scoring record against Portugal

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 04 December 2022

Xherdan Shaqiri will be looking to equal a Switzerland World Cup scoring record in Tuesday's last-16 clash against Portugal at Lusail Stadium.

The 31-year-old scored his first goal in Qatar in the 3-2 group-stage win over Serbia on Friday, becoming just the third player after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to score at each of the last three World Cups.

Shaqiri has now won 111 international caps for the Swiss across all competitions, including 11 appearances at the World Cup, and his most recent outing against Serbia saw him surpass Stephan Lichtsteiner and Valon Behrami as the country's most-capped player on the biggest international stage.

The Chicago Fire attacker has also scored five times at the World Cup and should he find the net against Portugal on Tuesday, he will become Switzerland's joint-record scorer in the competition along with Basel legend Josef Hugi.

Hugi scored six times at the 1954 World Cup when the Swiss reached the quarter-finals for the third time in their history.

Breel Embolo celebrates scoring for Switzerland against Cameroon on November 24, 2022 © Reuters

Switzerland have not reached the last eight at the World Cup since, falling short in each of their last seven participations in the competition.

The Swiss have been knocked out in three of the last four World Cups in the last 16, losing to Ukraine on penalties in 2006, losing to Argentina after extra time in 2014, and losing 1-0 to Sweden in normal time in 2018.

However, Murat Yakin's side will be looking to end their 68-year wait to reach the quarter-finals when they lock horns with Portugal in Lusail.

Switzerland can head into Tuesday's clash with optimism, after beating Portugal 1-0 in June during their UEFA Nations League campaign, courtesy of a 55-second strike from Haris Seferovic.

The Swiss also beat Portugal the last time the two nations faced off at a major tournament when Hakan Yakin scored a brace in a 2-0 group-stage victory at Euro 2008.

Victory for either Switzerland or Portugal on Tuesday will see them face one of Morocco or Spain in the last eight of this year's World Cup.