Sweden v Portugal World Cup Play Off 2nd Leg – Ronaldo Or Zlatan To Miss Brazil?

World Cup Play-Off: Sweden V Portugal

Tuesday 7:45PM. Sky Sports 1.

 In what will probably be the most frequently watched match of the night, Portugal take a slender 1-0 advantage to Stockholm in the second-leg of their World Cup Play-Off with Sweden.

As the two teams fight it out for a single place on the flight to Brazil, the world’s media await in anticipation as this one heads towards a compelling conclusion. We could be in for a classic.

THE WORLD CUP AWAITS

Only 90 minutes stands in the way of these two fantastic teams and the World Cup finals in Brazil.

With Sweden playing at home, the bookies have priced this straight down the middle and feel any outcome is possible over the 90 minutes. If Friday’s tight affair is anything to judge by then it’s hard to argue with that reasoning.

What we can be assured of though is that, with such a ticket to the world’s greatest party on offer to the winners, both sides will be fully focused on trying to get that all-important victory.

PORTUGAL FAVOURITES TO QUALIFY

Whilst the bookies are unprepared to name a clear favourite over 90 minutes, they do feel that Portugal’s first-leg advantage should be enough to ensure their qualification.

Portugal (priced 2/7 to qualify with BetVictor) have scored in their last 6 matches on foreign soil and if they can stretch that to lucky number 7 then there is a strong possibility that it will be they who board the plane to Brazil next summer.

SWEDEN STILL FIGHTING

However, even if Portugal do find a goal, it would be foolish to dismiss Sweden’s chances altogether. In eight matches played at the Friends Arena, the Swedes have hit 18 goals – a rate of 2.25 per game.

That tally has included hitting 3 past Germany and 4 against England so they certainly have the capacity to score even when playing some of the top International teams in Europe.  With a yellow army of over 50,000 fans behind them, they certainly won’t be lacking motivation.

ZLATAN V RONALDO

It could come down to the battle of two sporting icons.

Whatever the outcome, one of the world’s greatest talents will not be invited to the summer party. On Friday, in Lisbon, it was the Portuguese star that decided the match with his late headed winner but Sweden’s Ibrahimovic will be hopeful that he will have the final say on home soil.

They truly are phenomenal players and it’s a shame that they can’t both attend the finals next year.