Portugal v Ghana Predictions & Betting Odds – World Cup 2014

Need for victory to lead towards a draw?

Portugal v Ghana
Portugal v Ghana

Portugal v Ghana World Cup 2014, 26th June Betting Preview

One last chance for both of these to pick up their first win of the tournament and possibly squeeze through to the knockout stage. However, it will all be in vain if the USA draw with Germany in the other group match. Someone has to try and take initiative in this match, but it is one which looks like it has a draw written all over it.

Portugal v Ghana Betting Tips

By the skin of their teeth are Portugal still in the World Cup. Trailing 2-1 against the USA deep into injury time in their second group match, they managed to net a dramatic late equaliser to keep their hopes alive. But their hopes of getting through are still slim, because after losing 4-0 against Germany in their group opener, they are at a major disadvantage against both the USA and Germany in the goal difference area. So they have to try and tip the balance of a -5 goal difference problem to get themselves in the picture.

Unfortunately for Portuguese supporters, their side doesn’t look capable of doing that. They don’t look to be anything more than average, even with Cristiano Ronaldo in the side. This is the first time that these two will have met and Portugal’s record against African sides at the World Cup is W1 D1 L1. Their most recent meeting was in a group stage clash with the Ivory Coast four years ago, the game ending in a draw. Portugal aren’t in great World Cup from having produced one win in their last nine matches in the finals (D4 L4).

Worryingly for Portugal is that they do lack firepower. They have only managed to score in three of their last nine World Cup matches now, and not even Ronaldo has been able to carry them. The Real Madrid man has only fired off two World Cup goals from 62 shots in his career. He has looked on the fringes of things at Brazil 2014, not very involved, and wasn’t in the game much against the USA, but it was his cross which set up the dramatic equaliser. Nani’s opener against the the USA was Portugal’s first World Cup goal in 276 minutes of play. This game has the look of going under 2.5 goals, and Ronaldo is 8/11 favourite in the anytime goalscorer market.

The top option in the anytime goalscorer market for Ghana is Asamoah Gyan at a price of 2/1. He has equalised Roger Milla’s record of the most goals (5) by an African player at the World Cup. Ghana opened with a defeat against the USA, conceding late on, but then showed a lot of fight and grit in playing a positive game against Germany which ended in a 2-2 draw. It has left them in the same position as Portugal. They need to win to stand any chance of getting through and concern themselves with goal difference (not as much as Portugal have to though). Ghana, whose strength is their defence, haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last six World Cup match, and are without a win now in their last four in the group stage (W2 D2). This one could have a draw written all over it.

Portugal v Ghana Betting Odds

Portugal 5/4, Ghana 2/1, Draw 11/4

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Portugal v Ghana Predictions

Neither of these look particularly good enough to win this by enough to get through. Although, of the two sides, Ghana looked the more rounded in their performance against Germany. Can see this one ending up as a draw and Ghana are 6/5 in the Draw No Bet market.