Salah’s Egypt out to stun Ronaldo’s Portugal

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Friday Mar 23, 2018. 11:00

Egypt will square off with Portugal in an international friendly match at the Stadion Letzigrund in Switzerland on Friday.

Both teams will be using this match as preparation for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup finals which be hosted by Russia between June and July.

The Pharaohs were held to a 1-1 draw by Ghana in their previous game which was a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Kumasi last November.

Record seven-time African champions Egypt are undefeated in their last three games in all competitions.

The Pharaohs, who are under the guidance of Argentine tactician Hector Cuper, have recorded two wins and one draw during their current run.

Egypt will look to red-hot forward Mohamed Salah, who has been in excellent form for English Premier League giants Liverpool FC this season.

Salah, who played an important role in helping the Pharaohs qualify for this year’s World Cup, has remarkably netted 36 goals in 40 games in all competitions for Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Portugal’s Selection of the Quinas were held to a 1-1 draw by United States of America (USA) in their last game which was a friendly in Portugal last November.

The draw extended reigning European champions’ unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions.

The Selecton of the Quinas, who are coached by Portuguese trainer Fernando Santos, have registered six victories and one draw during their current run.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who remains one of the best footballers in all World football, is a consistent performer for both his Spanish club Real Madrid and Portugal.

The accomplished forward has been unstoppable for Real having hit the back of the net 21 times in 13 matches in all competitions this year.

In head-to-head stats, Egypt and Portugal have met three times. Selection of Quinas have claimed two wins compared to the Pharaohs’ one.

Egypt are placed 44th on the FIFA World rankings, while Portugal are placed third.