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MATCH THREAD: Qtr Final - Poland vs Portugal - KO 20:00 (ITV)

Who will win?

  • Poland

    Votes: 12 70.6%
  • Portugal

    Votes: 5 29.4%

  • Total voters
    17
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Poland have midfielder Bartosz Kapustka available again after he missed the Switzerland match through suspension.

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is again unlikely to feature as he says is still struggling with a thigh injury.

Portugal will assess midfielders Raphael Guerreiro and Andre Gomes, who are nursing minor muscle problems.

If the pair are declared fit then coach Fernando Santos could have all 23 players available for Thursday's game in Marseille.

William Carvalho, Pepe and Ricardo Quaresma are a booking away from missing a potential semi-final.

The same applies to Poland's Kamil Grosicki, Artur Jedrzejczyk, Krzysztof Maczynski, Michal Pazdan, Slawomir Peszko and Lukasz Piszczek.

Having watched Lionel Messi once again fall short in a major tournament, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo knows this tournament could be his best chance of landing international silverware - and striking a significant blow over his big rival in their personal battle to be lauded as the greatest player of their generation.

If Portugal lose to Poland, who knows whether Ronaldo would announce his international retirement, as Messi did after Argentina's defeat on penalties in the Copa America final this week.

But elimination would certainly be a crushing blow given Portugal are in the so called 'easy side' of the draw and, at 31, it may be his last realistic opportunity with his country.

However, opponents Poland have been far from easy to play against so far. They had never won a game at a European Championship finals before this year, but are now just one match away from matching their best-ever performance at a major tournament (they were semi-finalists at the 1982 World Cup).

Their defence has been particularly impressive and it took an astonishing goal from Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri to breach a defensive unit that had previously not conceded. It was only the third time they had let in a goal in 2016.

What they do need to improve on is their prowess up the other end of the pitch. They have scored two goals fewer than any of the other quarter-finalists and the goal drought of captain Robert Lewandowski, who top scored in qualifying with 13, showed no sign of ending against the Swiss.
 

Hoping Poland can put out Portugal. As much as love the country, I cannot stand Ronaldos posturing.
 
I like Poland & the country itself, so come on the Poles, plus I have a dislike for the Portuguese & The Algarve !!
 



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