Predictions & Livescore European Championship - Portugal vs Slovenia

European Championship - Portugal vs Slovenia
Match Time: 02-07-2024 03:00 Tuesday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Despite winning Group F with a game to spare, Portugal's humbling defeat to long-shot outsiders Georgia on Wednesday night saw them fall victim to an historic giant-killing, slightly souring an otherwise impressive performance so far.

Two errors from Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva helped the Georgians score in either half - with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's stunning opener arriving inside the first two minutes - and a late fightback failed to transpire in Gelsenkirchen.

As back-to-back wins over the Czech Republic and Turkey had already sealed the Selecao's berth in the last 16, head coach Roberto Martinez gladly took the chance to rest a number of players, such as Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and veteran centre-back Pepe.

Nonetheless, a talented squad will surely be stung by just their third loss since exiting the 2022 World Cup to Morocco: defeat also ended a run of 12 straight competitive victories.

Remarkably, Portugal have not lost back-to-back competitive games since Euro 2008; and as only Germany averaged more possession, faced fewer shots and had more goal attempts during the group stage, they will expect to quickly recover.

Martinez and co are still favourites to progress further into what has been dubbed the tougher half of the draw; since lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy in 2016, though, Portugal have lost three of four knockout games at the Euros or World Cup.

Monday's match will bring Slovenia face to face with the Selecao for only the second time, with the first coming as recently as March of this year - a 2-0 friendly victory in Ljubljana.

By contrast with their illustrious opponents, who have played 25 times following the group phase, the Slovenians are now making their debut at the elimination phase of a major tournament, so even getting this far will be reason to celebrate.

Holding out for a drab goalless draw against England in their final Group C game edged Matjaz Kek's side through to the last 16, also extending their unbeaten streak to nine matches.

Having previously drawn with Denmark and then Serbia - who they came within a whisker of beating - a tally of three points placed them third, which was ultimately enough to break new ground for the Slavic nation.

While Slovenia have averaged just 32% possession at Euro 2024 so far - only two teams have ever progressed from the group phase with a lower average share - Kek can call upon a solid squad featuring two genuine stars: captain Jan Oblak and young striker Benjamin Sesko.

Not since a 2-0 loss to Finland 14 games ago had they failed to score before Tuesday's stalemate in Cologne, so the underdogs can certainly pose a threat to one of the favourites for overall victory.

Prediction: Portugal 2-0 Slovenia