Portugal vs Ghana: Tough opener for Ronaldo and co
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World Cup 2022: Portugal vs Ghana odds, preview and tips
Cristiano Ronaldo has been making the headlines domestically as he prepares for what could be his final World Cup.
The Portugal captain has left Manchester United by mutual agreement and attention has turned to his next destination which could be Chelsea, according to the Ronaldo transfer odds.
Portugal winning odds of 4/11 suggest this should be a comfortable afternoon for the 2016 European champions, who are 14/1 in the World Cup winner odds.
You can read about all four nations in our World Cup Group H guide, but here we’re looking at some of the main talking points in our Portugal vs Ghana betting tips.
Portugal vs Ghana form
Portugal are 8/13 favourites to win the group but that is something they have failed to achieve since 2006 and they had to take the play-off route to book their spot in Qatar.
They have traditionally struggled against the minnows in the group stage, most recently edging Morocco 1-0 and drawing 1-1 with Iran in Russia four years ago, while they scraped into the knockout stage of last year’s European Championship only to lose 1-0 to Belgium in the round of 16.
Portugal have suffered late heartbreak in crucial games in the last year or so, with Aleksandar Mitrivic scoring in the final minute to send Serbia to the World Cup and Alvaro Morata did the same for Spain to leapfrog their Iberian neighbours in the last game of the group stage of the Nations League.
✨👤✨ @Cristiano #VesteABandeira #WearTheFlag pic.twitter.com/dQPpmmxKEY
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) November 14, 2022
As talented as Portugal are in midfield and attack, they often fail to gel and so a draw at 7/2 in the World Cup odds catches the eye, while even 21/10 on Ghana to win or pick up a point looks appealing.
The Africans are the lowest ranked team in the tournament and have the youngest squad, but they have a strong midfield and have convinced a couple of players to switch allegiance, like Athletic Bilbao’s Inaki Williams and Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey.
🚨𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 𝗡𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗨𝗣 🇬🇭 #BlackStars | #BringBackTheLove pic.twitter.com/08DgHhVDnE
— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) November 16, 2022
Ghana failed to make the last 16 of last year’s African Cup of Nations but qualified for the World Cup on the away-goals rule after two draws against Nigeria in the third and final round.
A score draw is available at 11/2 in the World Cup betting and a goal in both halves and the match to end all square is 9/1.
Portugal vs Ghana head to head
The teams have met just once before, in the final group game of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where Ronaldo struck in the 80th minute to secure a 2-1 victory.
However, Portugal’s 4-0 defeat by Germany and 2-2 draw with the USA meant both teams missed out on the knockout stage, with Ghana’s only point coming against Joachim Low’s side who went on to win the World Cup.
Fernando Santos’ side are 5/2 to win and concede against the Black Stars again, while they are 11/10 to be ahead at half-time and full-time as they were eight years ago.
Portugal vs Ghana team news
First-choice defenders Pepe and Nuno Mendes had been injury doubts in the build-up to the World Cup, but both players have been playing for their respective clubs, Porto and PSG.
However, Wolves midfielder Pedro Neto and Liverpool’s Diogo Jota both missed out because of injury.
Ghana goalkeeper Jojo Wolacott, who would have started the clash with Portugal, injured a finger during Saturday’s warm-up to Charlton’s 3-3 draw with Burton and is out of the tournament.
Portugal vs Ghana goalscorer odds
Ronaldo is unsurprisingly the 14/5 favourite to break the deadlock or he can be backed at 21/20 to score any time.
However, Santos has goalscorers all over the pitch, with AC Milan striker Rafael Leao a good option at 13/2 and 13/5 in the two markets.
Bruno Fernandes is 9/2 to draw first blood and 15/8 to find the net, while Bernardo Silva and Joao Felix are both 6/1 and 12/5 in the two markets.
Joao Cancelo has a good scoring record for his club Manchester City (five in 95) and his country (seven in 37), and can be backed at 12/1 and 9/2 in the two options.
Williams has scored five goals for Champions League hopefuls Athletic Bilbao this season and is 10/1 to get the ball rolling or 4/1 to find the net for Ghana.
Jordan Ayew is 16/1 and 13/2, while Partey, whose goal against Nigeria effectively sealed Ghana’s appearance at a fourth World Cup in five editions, is 22/1 and 9/1 in the World Cup odds.
Match Info
Where: Stadium 974, Doha, Lusail
When: 16:00, Thursday 24th November
How to watch: ITV
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
