Portugal v Uzbekistan: Count on cards in Houston and focus on fouls in 5/1 Bet Builder

Count cards with Portugal under pressure

Click here for Portugal v Uzbekistan odds
Tuesday 23 June, 18:00 kick-off
Group K - NRG Stadium, Houston
Live on ITV

It was a poor start for Portugal who were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their opener, and there's some squad issues for Roberto Martinez to deal with - namely what to do with Cristiano Ronaldo and ensure there's harmony with the team.

They're still 2/111.18 favourites to beat Uzbekistan, who are massive 14/115.00 underdogs but did at least score a goal in their 3-1 defeat to Colombia in their World Cup debut.

Scoring a goal again should really be the best Fabio Cannavaro could hope for from this game against one of the pre-tournament favourites, but it's hard to know how deep the division runs inside the Portuguese camp and Martinez's team selection will tell us a lot.

And defensively Portugal have been leaky in World Cups - with nine of 12 seeing both teams score - and it's 29/202.45 for both teams to find the net in Houston.

We've seen enough from the so-called minnows already in this tournament to be a bit wary, but Portugal should be able to control this game if they've sorted themselves out behind the scenes.

Cannavaro will want to tighten up after their opening defeat, so you can see this being tough for Portugal, who only had one shot on target against Congo.

But it's hard to see a side with this much talent laying such a big egg again, and ultimately they've got more than enough class whoever starts. The should do the job but not by a landslide, so back Portugal win and under 3.5 goals at 10/111.91 in the match odds.

But preference for an outright bet here is the 5/23.50 on 2+ cards for each team. Portugal got three last game and had two in four of their last five competitive internationals, while Uzbekistan have had two in just two of their last four, but Portugal have a habit of drawing cards out of you - especially when their backs are against the wall.

Back 5/16.00 fouls Bet Builder treble

You can't see Ronaldo not starting really can you? The bookies think so as he's 8/151.53 anytime scorer favourite in the match, with Bruno Fernandes 6/42.50 to find the net.

The Portuguese hardly lit up the stat sheet last time though with just seven attempts on goal and the singular shot on target - and the short prices on their attacking output again may be best left for this one.

Fouls for the Uzbeks is of more interest really, given they gave away 14 against Colombia and again will be on the back foot for most of the contest - with four players giving 3+ fouls away last time.

Two of them are worth backing again to give away 2+ fouls here - both Man City's Abdukodir Khusanov (who was also booked) and Abdulla Abdullaeva are 11/102.11 for another couple of fouls each and given their positions in a back three they'll be exposed to Portugal's tricky forward line.

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You have to include Fernandes in the fouls shake-up as well, he was fouled twice and gave one away against Congo and temperatures will be running high from the start - the Man Utd man plays on the edge at the best of times.

Back Fernandes to give a foul away at 4/61.67 which is the more prudent bet to include in any multiples, while he's also 6/42.50 to be fouled twice or more and that could well be worth a single by itself.

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