POLAND VS PORTUGAL: Prediction, team news, and tips you need to know

Cristiano Ronaldo has the extra perks ahead of Portugal’s quarter-final clash with Poland following Lionel Messi’s decision to retire from international football.

But Portugal are not all about Ronaldo’s flamboyance only. A mediocre performance against Croatia helped them get this far and they are expected to perform more in this match rather than hoping for a easy win.

Poland represent a stern test for Portugal and have a game changer of their own, Robert Lewandowski.

Xherdan Shaqiri’s is another player to look out for with outrageous overhead kick and perhaps only goal Poland have conceded this summer and they will certainly fancy their chances of reaching the last four.

Date, time and venue

Poland will face Portugal at Stade Velodorme in Marseille on Friday, 1st July (Malaysia timing) and the Kick-off is at 3:00 am Malaysia time as usual!

Team news and probable line-ups

Lukasz Fabianski is set to continue in goal with Wojciech Szczesny still struggling with a thigh injury.

Arkadiusz Milik should already have his dream for Golden Boot dismissed, given how many chances he has missed, and will need to be more clinical up front.

So does Robert Lewndowski, who is yet to pick up his peak form in France.

But the fact Poland have made it this far without their key man firing on all cylinders can also be seen as a positive.

Poland possible Lineup: Fabianski, Piszczek, Glik, Pazdan, Jedrzejczyk, Blaszczykowski, Krychowiak, Maczynski, Grosicki, Milik, Lewandowski.

Portugal will have had plenty of time to recover from an energy-sapping extra time victory over Croatia.

Match winner Ricardo Quaresma will be hopeful he has done enough to secure a starting berth after impressing off the bench in the last round.

So too will Renato Sanches, who added much needed impetus – and speed – to Portugal’s midfield.

Vieirinha is also pushing to be recalled at right back as Portugal attempt to deal with the significant threat Poland possess on both flanks.

Portugal possible Lineup: Rui Patricio, Soares, Pepe, Fonte, Guerreiro, Joao Mario,, Adrien Silva, Carvalho, Renato Sanches, Nani, Ronaldo.

What the coach says

Poland coach Adam Nawalka: “We don’t have a single problem with the fact that Robert Lewandowski hasn’t scored so far.

“He’s doing a great job for our side. We are a team that understands each other very well and knows that what’s good for the team is the most important thing.”

Portugal coach Fernando Santos: “Sometimes you have to be pragmatic. It’d be nice to play pretty but that’s not always how you win tournaments.

“We were up against an amazing team [Croatia] and this was always going to be tight and strong.

“It was a very tactical match. At times we could have passed the ball faster but Croatia influenced that.”