World Cup 2018: 3 reasons why Uruguay can knock Portugal out of the World Cup

The group stage games of the 2018 FIFA World Cup have come to a close and we’ve got 16 teams who will fight each other out for football’s greatest prize starting Saturday.

The second fixture of the round of 16 will see two-time World Cup winners Uruguay take on the reigning European champions Portugal at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi.

This game is expected to be evenly contested one as there is very little to differentiate between both the sides in terms of their style of play.

Uruguay are on a perfect winning streak, they won all three of their group stage games, and should they beat Portugal on Saturday, it would be only the second time after 1930 that they would win all opening four games at a World Cup.

Portugal drew 3-3 against Spain in their opening game and went on to win the next one against Morocco, however, a 1-1 draw with Iran in their final game saw them finish second behind group winners Spain.

The winner of this knock-out tie will face either France or Argentina in the Quarterfinals.

So, without further delay, let's take a look at three reasons why Uruguay can knock Portugal out of the World Cup.

#3 A case for the defense

Diego Godin will lead Uruguay's back-line against Portugal

“The best defence is a good offence” is an adage that is used in many fields of endeavour, especially in military combats to gain strategic advantage.

But does this work in football? Well, if it’s the Uruguayan football team, yes.

Oscar Tabarez’s side has been a tough nut to crack in the tournament so far as they are yet to concede a goal in three games.

They beat Egypt and Saudi Arabia with narrow 1-0 margins in the group stage and we are not too sure if they would be where they are today, had they conceded in those two games.

The men at the heart of Uruguayan defence are Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez. Sounds so like Atletico Madrid, right?

Well, you have seen how miserly the Uruguayan duo have been for the Rojo Blancos, haven’t you?

The fact that Uruguay has faced just six shots on goal so far, tells you how compact they are at the back.

Ronaldo and co. will have their task cut out for them if they are to get past the South American wall on Saturday.

#2 Momentum

Uruguay will have the momentum going into their game against Portugal

Ah, the old friend, Momentum.

We have seen how momentum helps even the weaker teams get the better of stronger ones in the past and this time it looks to side with the South Americans.

The two teams had strikingly contrasting fortunes in the group stage.

Two-time winners Uruguay started with a 1-0 win over Egypt. They followed it up with another narrow win against Saudi Arabia. However, it’s against Russia they seemed to have found their footing as both Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani scored a goal each to thrash the hosts 3-0 by the final whistle.

Portugal, on the other hand, started their campaign in spectacular fashion to play an eventful 3-3 draw with the mighty Spaniards but have hardly impressed since. They had a scare in their final group game when Iran scored in injury time and threatened to knock them out with another close shot.

So, it would be fair to say La Celeste are ahead of Fernando Santos’ side on current form.

#1 Shut Ronaldo out and half the job is done

Will Cristiano Ronaldo score against Uruguay?

You knew it was coming, all along. Didn’t you?

That Cristiano Ronaldo is to Portugal what Lionel Messi is to Argentina, is a no-brainer. He is their leader, goal-scorer and saviour, all at the same time. Ronaldo inspired Portugal to a Euro Cup title two years back and he hasn’t disappointed in this World Cup either. If anything, he has upped his status to a next level.

The Real Madrid talisman has scored four of their five goals in the tournament. This underlines the fact that Fernando Santos’s side are ridiculously reliant on him. Therein lies Uruguay’s key to success. Shut Ronaldo out and you are nearly there.

Iran demonstrated this strategy to perfection in their final group game and on Saturday, Oscar Tabarez’s men would like to take a leaf out of the Iranians and hurt Portugal where it hurts the most.