New Zealand VS Portugal Match Prediction

This will be the very first meeting between these two teams in international competition.

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New Zealand vs Portugal Betting Tips and Odds

Bet365 have the following odds available for this match:

New Zealand are at 28/1 to win, a draw is at 19/2, and a Portugal win is at 1/14.

New Zealand are at 9/1 should they get a win or a draw via the double chance.

Both teams to score is set at 9/4 for yes and at 1/3 for no.

A 1-0 win for the Kiwis could bring you incredibly high 95/1 odds if correct at full time.

Reason:

The bookmakers have the Kiwis as underdogs here because they are simply down on people and quality compared to Portugal, who are the reigning European champions.  Also, New Zealand have been the whipping boys in past Confederations Cup matches, and that hardly looks like stopping.

New Zealand vs Portugal Prediction

Portugal often make a meal out of matches, especially in the group stage.  That might be the case here, but they should still make it a win and take the group as a result.

Correct Score Prediction: New Zealand 0-2 Portugal

Team News

Anthony Hudson will be lucky to have his full squad available to him after that huge fight on Wednesday with Mexico.  Some players have yellow cards on them, but they are inconsequential as they won't be earning suspensions for semi-final play because they can't make it there.

Key Man

Chris Wood showed his quality to all of those that were unaware of what he could do on Wednesday.  Wood has been doubted for some time, never quite getting to the level he's capable of.  But he got the goal to give them the lead with a very cool finish.  He could have had more, but the Leeds United man let some chances go to waste.  He'll need to take his chances here to help his side contend with the Euro 2016 winners.

Team Form

New Zealand began the Confederations Cup by playing against the hosts Russia, and they ended up losing 2-0 after a solid but uninspiring effort.  They then faced Mexico on Wednesday, and they lost 2-1 to Mexico after squandering a first half lead.

New Zealand Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 3-5-2

Team News

Fernando Santos has yellow cards on the following players: Gomes, Bernardo Silva, and Pepe.  Each will have to be careful to not pick up another and a suspension to follow.  Left back Raphael Guerreiro went off with an injury in the second half, so he will be a doubt for this match.

Key Man

We all know about the ability and physical gifts of Cristiano Ronaldo for the Portuguese, but another man is slowly making his name as a man that can start to do what the Real Madrid man does.  Andre Silva is that man, and it's easy to see the comparisons.  He's very quick, he's imposing in the air, and he's a good finisher as well.  He's not Ronaldo, yet, but he very well could be.  With a Kiwis side surely keen on denying Ronaldo, he could be the perfect player for them to turn toward in the search for goals.

Team Form

Portugal began their tournament with a 2-2 draw against Mexico.  They would have been disappointed to have given up a lead twice in that match.  On Wednesday, they met hosts Russia and they won 0-1 thanks to a typically solid performance.

Portugal Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 4-4-2

New Zealand became the first side to be eliminated officially from the 2017 Confederations Cup, but they went down with a fight- both literally and figuratively. The Kiwis had a 1-0 lead at half time, but they were soon pegged back by the Mexicans and then lost their lead. The late ruckus, though, showed they weren\'t keen on losing there. And despite facing Portugal without a motivation to win, they will still have plenty at stake in terms of pride. Portugal, though, need just a draw to go through and look good to win the group via a win in this match. But they still have to follow through and grab the result.

Portugal haven\'t lost a group stage in any competition since they lost to Ghana in the 2014 World Cup.