World Cup

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World Cup | Group Stage

Nov 28, 2022 at 7pm UK

Portugal
2 - 0
Uruguay

Fernandes (54', 90+3' pen.)
Neves (38'), Felix (77'), Dias (89')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Bentancur (6'), Olivera (44')

World Cup 2022: Reasons for Uruguay to be confident of beating Portugal

By Ben Sully

Published: November 27 2022 | 22:36

Last updated: November 28 2022 | 21:17

Ahead of Uruguay's game against Portugal, Sports Mole looks at three reasons why Uruguay will be confident of claiming their first win of World Cup 2022.

Uruguay will attempt to record their first win of World Cup 2022 when they face Portugal in their second group game at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on Monday.

The South Americans began the tournament with an uneventful goalless draw against South Korea, where neither side could register a shot on target.

Having progressed from the group stage in each of the last three World Cups, Uruguay will look to give their chances of reaching the last 16 a boost with a win over Portugal.

Here, Sports Mole looks at three reasons why Uruguay will be confident of claiming their first victory of the tournament.

Record against European opponents

Federico Valverde for Uruguay in September 2022 © Reuters

Since experiencing a run of results that saw them record just two victories in 25 games against European nations at the World Cup, Uruguay have enjoyed an upturn in fortunes.

They have won four of their last five meetings with European opponents, although the only defeat in that period took place against France in the 2018 quarter-finals.

Before they lost 2-0 to France, they had embarked on a run of four consecutive World Cup victories against European sides, and their last win against such opposition came against Portugal four years ago.

Cavani netted a brace on that occasion to secure a 2-1 victory in the last 16, and Uruguay will be looking to replicate that result on Monday.

Portugal's South American struggles

Uruguay's Edinson Cavani scores their first goal past Portugal's Rui Patricio on June 30, 2018 © Reuters

For Portugal, the defeat to Uruguay in 2018 contributed to a run of poor form against South American opponents, with the Selecao finding wins hard to come by.

In their last nine games against South American countries across all international fixtures, Portugal have won once, drawn three times, and lost on five occasions.

Their only win in that period took place in a friendly with Argentina in 2014, where Raphael Guerreiro scored a stoppage-time winner to clinch a 1-0 victory.

Portugal's two World Cup meetings with South American opposition in the 21st century resulted in a goalless draw against Brazil in 2010 and a 2-1 defeat to Monday's opponents, which represents the only previous occasion that the Selecao have ever faced Uruguay in the tournament's history.

Strong defence

Canada's Alphonse Davis in action with Uruguay's Sebastian Caceres in September 2022 © Reuters

As a result of playing out a goalless draw with South Korea in their opening game of the tournament, Uruguay have now kept a clean sheet in each of their last five World Cup group games.

They have the chance to write their names in the history books on Monday as no country has ever recorded six straight clean sheets in the group stages.

Their impressive defensive record has also been impressive throughout the current calendar after keeping nine clean sheets in the 11 internationals that they have played in 2022.

Having only conceded two goals this year, Uruguay's resilient defence will certainly be put to the test against Portugal.