Enlarge image
If Cristiano Ronaldo (right) scores more goals than goalkeeper Rui Patrício conceded, Portugal will advance to the quarter-finals
Photo:
BERNADETT SZABO / AFP
The knockout round at the European Football Championship is underway.
Would you like to refresh your knowledge of the top 16 teams in the tournament before the round of 16 starts?
The most important information about the match between Belgium and Portugal on Sunday (9 p.m., TV: ARD, stream: MagentaTV, live ticker: SPIEGEL.de) can be found here.
What are the Belgians' chances?
So far, the team of coach Roberto Martínez has lived up to its role as favorites: Belgium won all three group games, especially playmaker Kevin de Bruyne (one goal, two assists) has been in top form since his comeback against Denmark.
But: The first real test for the gradually aging defense is still pending, Belgium allowed 21 shots against the Danes.
Portugal becomes a first indicator on the way to Wembley.
Which player will be important?
Belgium captain Jan Vertonghen now plays for Benfica Lisbon.
More important than his personal experience with Portuguese football culture will be how he leads the Belgian back three against the defending champion's offensive power.
Belgium has the problem of leaving gaps with only two players in midfield that the three-man chain cannot always close by moving up: the Belgian defense is not the fastest, if a Portuguese escapes behind them, he is gone.
So you need timing and clear commands, for which Spokesman Vertonghen is responsible.
What else is there to know?
The duel could turn into a heat battle: At Seville, the venue is over 30 degrees on Sunday, and it should still be hot in the late evening.
It is quite possible that the German referee Felix Brych will order some drinking breaks.
What are the chances of the Portuguese?
It's really not easy for the defending champion: Most recently, Germany and France faced the last two world champions, and the Belgians are now the world's number one in the round of 16.
There was hardly any time for nice offensive football, as the squad would expect.
Because superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been the top scorer in the European Championship with five goals so far, does not need many chances (and was allowed to take three penalties), it was still enough as third in the group to advance.
But it can also be close against Belgium.
Which player will be important?
Nélson Semedo was the main culprit in Portugal at 2: 4 against Germany, as he was often lost to Robin Gosens.
The right-back, who represents João Cancelo, who is missing after a positive corona test, was not to blame for the collective excessive demands and plays a good tournament individually - 13 tackles and seven stopped dribbling are EM top values.
Now the next opponent is waiting with an attacking left-back and Semedo will come back into focus, only this time his team has to help him.
What else is there to know?
The game relaunched the goalscoring duel of the Italian Serie A: Ronaldo was Juventus' top scorer last season, Romelu Lukaku landed right behind. The Belgian (three goals) is also right behind the Portuguese in the European Championship goalscorer list. The team success does not necessarily have to depend on the shooting competition of the two storm stars: Lukaku was already in the league who celebrated the championship title with Inter Milan, while Ronaldo's Turinese only finished fourth.
