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Euro 2016: Predictions for Portugal-Wales semi-final

By Freddie Boston

FILE PHOTO - (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF TWO IMAGES - Image numbers (L) 542986656 and 543947200) In this composite image a comparision has been made between Gareth Bale of Wales (L) and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal. Wales and Portugal meet in the EURO2016 semi final at the Stade des Lumieres on July 6, 2016 in Lyon,France. ***LEFT IMAGE*** PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 25: Gareth Bale of Wales in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between Wales and Northern Ireland at Parc des Princes on June 25, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** MARSEILLE, FRANCE - JUNE 30: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter final match between Poland and Portugal at Stade Velodrome on June 30, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO - (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF TWO IMAGES - Image numbers (L) 542986656 and 543947200) In this composite image a comparision has been made between Gareth Bale of Wales (L) and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal. Wales and Portugal meet in the EURO2016 semi final at the Stade des Lumieres on July 6, 2016 in Lyon,France. ***LEFT IMAGE*** PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 25: Gareth Bale of Wales in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between Wales and Northern Ireland at Parc des Princes on June 25, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** MARSEILLE, FRANCE - JUNE 30: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter final match between Poland and Portugal at Stade Velodrome on June 30, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) /
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Will Wales’ historic journey continue all the way to the Euro 2016 final, or will Portugal reach their first final since 2004?

Wales’ story has been great to watch, and if they go onto win Euro 2016 it will be a feat up there with Leicester’s Premier League triumph. To reach their first major tournament final, they will need to get past a team incredibly streetwise in big games.

Perhaps Wales’ biggest fear in this game isn’t the fact they have to deal with Cristiano Ronaldo, rather they are playing a team that knows how to get the job done.

Portugal vs. Wales (3pm ET)

Portugal haven’t won a game inside 90 minutes at Euro 2016, but they have found a way to make it this far. Three unimpressive draws led them to third place in Group F, barely enough to advance to the Round of 16.

They scraped past Group D winners Croatia with a late extra-time winner, and Portugal then needed penalties to see off Poland in the quarter-finals.

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Ronaldo’s team runs into the red hot Welsh, who eased to victory over Belgium last week. All 11 players have performed in unison, defending in numbers and countering with speed. Manager Chris Coleman has his team well organized at the back, and they pack a punch going forward.

Containing Ronaldo will be the toughest task this defense has faced so far, and likewise Gareth Bale will command the same attention from Portugal. Neither player has dominated at this tournament, however.

Bale has three goals, although two of those were from free kicks that really should have been saved, and the other was a soft goal to finish off Russia. We haven’t seen Bale at his dominant best, but it could happen against Portugal.

Likewise, Ronaldo has been left frustrated. His desperation to carry his team and find the net has made him greedy with the ball at times, a lack of teamwork completely alien to what we’ve seen from Wales.

This game will be a tight one, but on paper Portugal aren’t as strong as the Belgium team Wales brushed aside last week. The fact Portugal struggled to get past Poland is encouraging for the Welsh, too.

It’s important not to overlook experience, however. Portugal are no strangers to this stage and know what it takes to win. It’s easy to point to this game as Wales’ best ever chance to win a major tournament, but the same could be said of Portugal.

It will be a tight game, but the Wales’ historic story will go the distance.

Prediction: Portugal 1-2 Wales

Next: Five potential Roy Hodgson replacements as England boss

My Euro 2016 record: 27-21

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