Portugal vs North Macedonia betting tips: European World Cup qualifying Play-off Final preview, predictions and odds
Vitinha
Nunes, Matheus
Nikolov, Boban
Felix, Joao
Leao, Rafael
Carvalho, William
Ashkovski, Stefan
Churlinov, Darko
Miovski, Bojan
Recommended bets
Portugal to win and both teams to score NO is 4/6.
Match preview
LISBON, PORTUGAL – MARCH 24: Diogo Jota of Liverpool FC and Portugal celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Knockout Round Play-Off match between Portugal and Turkey at Estádio do Dragão on March 24, 2022 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
When the draw was made back in November, everyone was so excited for a heavyweight final showdown between Portugal and Italy.
Well, everyone apart from North Macedonia that is.
On Thursday night, Blagoja Milevski’s side travelled to Stadio Renzo Barbera as huge underdogs and this was show on the night.
Italy racked up an xG score of 1.98, having 32 shots in old money, but they could not find the breakthrough.
Then, in stoppage time, the unthinkable happened; Aleksandar Trajkovski’s long-range shot found the bottom corner.
Cue absolute bedlam on the North Macedonia bench and in the away section as the Lynxes knock the European Champions out of the World Cup.
North Macedonia only made their major tournament debut last summer, beating Kosovo and then Georgia in the Euro 2020 play-offs.
In this campaign, they’ve already beaten Germany away and now Italy away so are one more victory away from a shock World Cup debut.
Simultaneously, Portugal took on Turkey and looked set for a very comfortable victory in Porto.
Otávio opened the scoring before a magnificent back-post header by Diogo Jota doubled their lead just before half time.
Turkey then halved the deficit before, ten minutes from the end, being awarded a penalty but Burak Yılmaz blazed over the bar.
As the visitors pushed for the equaliser, A Seleção broke up the other end and Matheus Nunes sealed the win with his first international goal.
Fernando Santos led Portugal to Euro 2016 and Nations League 2019 glory but surely will be sacked if they fail in these play-offs.
Os Navegadores haven’t failed to qualify for a World Cup since France ’98 and are now big favourites to maintain that statistic.
Will Portugal end North Macedonia’s fairytale at Estádio do Dragão?
Portugal team news
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – JUNE 23: Renato Sanches of Portugal runs with the ball during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group F match between Portugal and France at Puskas Arena on June 23, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Angel Martinez – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Both João Cancelo and Renato Sanches served one-match suspensions against Turkey, but both are back in contention for this one.
Cancelo will return at right-back, displacing Diogo Dalot, and this is a big boost for a depleted back-line.
Rúben Dias is out injured but 39 year old Pepe could be fit again so would partner 38 year old José Fonte at centre-back.
Danilo Pereira filled in at the back on Thursday but will drop out if Pepe is fit to start which it seems like he is.
The other big call Fernando Santos made last week was to drop Rui Patrício, who has 102 caps to his name, and start Diogo Costa for his competitive international debut.
At the other end of the pitch, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Jota are all likely to keep their places, supporting Cristiano Ronaldo.
North Macedonia team news
Ezgjan Alioski celebrates with teammates after scoring during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group C football match between Ukraine and North Macedonia at Arena Națională in Bucharest on June 17, 2021. (Photo by MARKO DJURICA / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MARKO DJURICA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
North Macedonia meanwhile had their best player, Elif Elmas, suspended for the win over Italy, as was fellow midfielder Tihomir Kostadinov.
Elmas will certainly return to a midfield unit that also contains Arijan Ademi and Enis Bardhi.
Bizarrely, left-back Ezgjan Alioski is the second-top scorer in this squad with 12; he now plays for Al-Ahli having left Leeds United last summer.
Their main marksman also plays in Saudi Arabia with Aleksandar Trajkovski scoring his 20th international goal in the last minute to knockout Italy.
Can this North Macedonia team pull off the most unlikely of World Cup qualifications?
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Switzerland vs Portugal - 1:0
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Portugal vs Czech Republic - 2:0
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Portugal vs Switzerland - 4:0
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Spain vs Portugal - 1:1
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Portugal vs North Macedonia - 2:0
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Latest match form, last 5 games: |
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North Macedonia vs Gibraltar - 4:0
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North Macedonia vs Georgia - 0:3
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Gibraltar vs North Macedonia - 0:2
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Bulgaria vs North Macedonia - 1:1
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Portugal vs North Macedonia - 2:0
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| June 12, 2022 | UEFA Nations League 22/23 | Switzerland | 1 - 0 | Portugal |
| June 9, 2022 | UEFA Nations League 22/23 | Portugal | 2 - 0 | Czech Republic |
| June 5, 2022 | UEFA Nations League 22/23 | Portugal | 4 - 0 | Switzerland |
| June 2, 2022 | UEFA Nations League 22/23 | Spain | 1 - 1 | Portugal |
| March 29, 2022 | WC Qualification, UEFA 2022 | Portugal | 2 - 0 | North Macedonia |
| June 12, 2022 | UEFA Nations League 22/23 | North Macedonia | 4 - 0 | Gibraltar |
| June 9, 2022 | UEFA Nations League 22/23 | North Macedonia | 0 - 3 | Georgia |
| June 5, 2022 | UEFA Nations League 22/23 | Gibraltar | 0 - 2 | North Macedonia |
| June 2, 2022 | UEFA Nations League 22/23 | Bulgaria | 1 - 1 | North Macedonia |
| March 29, 2022 | WC Qualification, UEFA 2022 | Portugal | 2 - 0 | North Macedonia |
| Portugal | North Macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Matches played | 12 |
| 7 | Matches won | 6 |
| 153 | Goal attempts | 138 |
| 69 | Shots on goal | 56 |
| 55 | Shots off goal | 54 |
| 65 | Corner kicks | 43 |
| 60% | Average ball possession | 49% |
| 29 | Shots blocked | 28 |
| 21 | Cards given | 27 |
| 139 | Free kicks | 178 |
| 25 | Offsides | 26 |
| 11 | Goals by foot | 22 |
| 10 | Goals by head | 2 |
| 22 | Goals scored | 24 |
| 7 | Goals conceded | 13 |
| 0 | Shots on post | 2 |
| Portugal | North Macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Matches | 2 |
| 2 | Home Matches | 0 |
| 0 | Away Matches | 2 |
| 2 | Total Goals | 0 |
| 1 | Average Goals Scored | 0 |
| 1 | Wins | 0 |
| 0 | Losses | 1 |
| 1 | Draws | 1 |
| March 29, 2022 | WC Qualification, UEFA 2022 | Portugal | 2 - 0 | North Macedonia |
| May 26, 2012 | Int. Friendly Games 2012 | Portugal | 0 - 0 | North Macedonia |
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What time is kick off between Portugal vs North Macedonia?
18:45, Tuesday 29 March 2022
